The Center for Real Estate at Portland State University recently offered students an opportunity to step inside the new headquarters of Zoominfo at the Vancouver waterfront, gaining a firsthand look at one of the region’s most exciting workplaces and the people behind it.
Lauren Falkner, Head of Global Real Estate at Zoominfo, and Chelsey Boreas of GBD Architects offered students an immersive tour of the state-of-the-art facility, showcasing collaborative workspaces, innovative design features, and specialized areas that support work at the tech company. Throughout the tour, students learned how the company’s values are reflected in its physical space and design is used to create an engaging workplace environment that motivates employees to return to the office.
“Experiences like this help students connect theory to practice in a very real way,” said Julia Freybote, Director of the Master of Science in Real Estate program at Portland State University. “Seeing how corporate real estate, design, and company culture come together inside an active workplace gives students a clearer understanding of the roles they can pursue,and the impact they can have,after graduation.”
A highlight of the visit was the chance for students to engage directly with Lauren, who shared her own career path and offered advice on preparing for a career in corporate real estate. For many students from undergraduate and graduate business programs at Portland State University and Oregon State University, the experience helped bring classroom learning into focus and sparked new ideas about possible future careers.
“When students can walk through a space like this and hear directly from professionals leading these projects, it builds both confidence and clarity,” said Dr. Freybote. “These moments often help students envision themselves in the industry and refine the career paths they want to pursue.”
“It’s rare for newer developments to genuinely show effort and purpose,” said PSU Master of Science in Real Estate (MSRE) student Milan Ahari, “but visiting ZoomInfo’s space exceeded expectations.”
Property tours like this play an important role in the Center for Real Estate’s mission to help students from all Oregon universities explore career possibilities in the commercial real estate industry, build professional confidence, and make informed decisions about their next steps. The Center for Real Estate is grateful to Zoominfo for welcoming students into their new headquarters and for their commitment to supporting the next generation of talent.
“Our goal is to give students direct access to the people and places shaping today’s real estate industry,” said Alisa Pyszka, Executive Director of the Center for Real Estate at Portland State University. “Property tours like this allow students to learn from industry leaders, ask meaningful questions, and better understand how their coursework translates into real-world careers.”
To learn more about the MSRE program and how to apply, visit the program’s website here.