3290: HQO and the Future of Human-Centric Smart Buildings

In this episode of Tech Talks Daily, I’m joined by Chase Garbarino, Co-Founder and CEO of HQO, a company reimagining the way commercial real estate connects with its occupants. From digital keycards to IoT-enabled spaces, HQO is building the operating system for real estate, already active across 250 million square feet in 24 countries.

We explore how commercial real estate, once known for its slow adoption of technology, is finally undergoing rapid transformation. Chase shares the story behind HQO’s creation, the drive to modernize the built environment, and why he believes cities are humanity’s greatest product. He outlines how hybrid work, flexible leases, and higher user expectations have pushed property owners to rethink what a workplace should offer.

But this isn’t just a tech story. It’s about connection. Chase reveals how HQO is helping create meaningful experiences through digital tools that serve every type of building user, not just those paying the rent. From commute integration to smart access, amenity bookings to workplace engagement, HQO’s platform is designed to be both invisible and impactful.

We also learn about the Quantum City Initiative, a new effort from HQO and MIT to help existing cities leap forward with shared learnings, digital infrastructure, and civic innovation. It is not about tearing cities down and starting from scratch. It is about helping them adapt, thrive, and compete in a connected world.

Chase closes by sharing one of his favorite stories: how a shoe company, a beer company, and a 3D printing firm all found community inside an HQO-powered building. These companies collaborated, socialized, and created something no one could have planned, all because the tech enabled real people to meet.

If you are curious about how smart buildings are becoming more human or how data and design can shape a more connected future, this conversation will spark new ideas.