Why major cities are converting empty office towers into residential apartments

Cities around the world are facing a surplus of empty office space as the post-pandemic rise of homeworking significantly reduces the demand for commercial real estate. In Paris, the business district of La Défense has seen vacancy rates rise and plans to transform up to a fifth of its office buildings into housing to diversify the area. Similar trends are underway in US cities like Washington DC and New York, where tax incentives for developers are driving large numbers of office-to-apartment conversions. These projects face architectural challenges, such as windowless interior spaces and plumbing needs, but aim to revitalize downtown areas and introduce thousands of new residents.