Cherry Tang, a master of science in real estate development student at the MIT Center for Real Estate, recently participated in an experiential learning opportunity in Panama working with Conservatorio, a development firm based in Casco Viejo. What began as a modeling exercise quickly became a deeper exploration of how development, community, and environment intersect, shaped as much by people and culture as by the work itself. The project centered on Santa Catalina, a remote surf town on Panama's Pacific coast. The development comprises approximately 140 residential units across condos, villas, and homes, along with vacant lots, four retail spaces, a surf school with a stadium, and a restaurant with a pool ' all envisioned as the town's first true center. The project is designed as an open, walkable master-planned community that integrates seamlessly with the existing town. Anchored by surfing and diving, it introduces a diverse product mix and a 600-meter linear park, positioning...
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