Development Challenge

A leading opportunity to gain experience in development outside of the workplace.

Development Challenge

The CREDA Greater Toronto Chapter’s annual Development Challenge is a premier opportunity for emerging professionals to gain real-world development experience. Each year, teams design a comprehensive development concept for a selected site, showcasing their skills to senior industry leaders through written and live presentations. The Challenge offers valuable collaboration, learning, and industry-wide visibility, helping participants build their expertise and networks while strengthening the future of the commercial real estate sector.

The CREDA GTA Development Challenge allows rising stars in commercial real estate to demonstrate their talent and skills to senior industry members and other industry judges through a written case study and an in-person finals presentation.

The Development Challenge is Toronto’s leading opportunity to gain experience in development outside of the workplace. This year’s challenge will include a series of education sessions, to be announced in the coming weeks, to help participants develop expertise and provide guidance for teams to participate without prior development experience.

This high-profile event provides Students and Developing Leaders with valuable experience, industry exposure, and the chance to expand their professional networks.

This marquee developing leaders event will include a Live Finals Event in the fall, where finalists will present their proposals live in front of a panel of expert judges, CREDA members and industry colleagues and mentors.

Cash prizes will be awarded to the top three teams!

IMPORTANT DATES

Registration Open: May 21, 2026
Registration Deadline: July 1, 2026
Brief Issue: July 8, 2026
One-Pager Due: August 14, 2026
Round One Submission: September 15, 2026
Notification Period of Finalists: September 30, 2026
Finals Event (Awards Night): October 29, 2026

2025 Development Challenge

That’s a wrap on the 14th Annual CREDA GTA Development Challenge!

CREDA GTA was pleased to welcome The South Hangars, developed by Northcrest and Hines, as the Lead Site Sponsor of our 2025 Development Challenge.

The South Hangars are located in the Hangar District—the first district of the Northcrest-led YZD, the 370-acre former Downsview Airport lands.

Read the project brief here.

This marquee CREDA GTA event included a Live Finals Event, where three finalist teams presented live to a panel of judges with colleagues and mentors in attendance, for a chance to win cash prizes for first, second and third-place team placements!