5 Office Conversions Making Waves in 2024

Adaptive reuse projects are transforming underutilized office space into mixed-use hubs of housing and commerce.

1 minute read

February 27, 2024, 5:00 AM PST

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Aerial view of rooftop of 25 Water Street building in New York City with redevelopment work going on on rooftop.

Rooftop redevelopment work on the 25 Water Street project in New York City. | SnowFire, CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons / 25 Water Street

An article in Smart Cities Dive by Mary Salmonsen highlights five major office-to-residential conversions happening around the country. As Salmonsen explains, “While new multifamily starts are slowing down overall, the conversion projects now in active development or construction represent a record high.”

The five projects mentioned in the article are:

  1. 25 Water Street in New York City
  2. The Ames Center in Arlington, Virginia
  3. The Centennial in Cleveland, Ohio
  4. 135 South LaSalle St. in Chicago, Illinois
  5. Kierland Sky in Scottsdale, Arizona

All of these developments are turning former office buildings into hundreds of multifamily housing units and mixed-use commercial projects. The 25 Water Street development in New York City alone will bring 1,263 new housing units online.

Thursday, February 22, 2024 in Smart Cities Dive

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

High-rise apartment buildings in Waikiki, Hawaii with steep green mountains in background.

Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss

The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25,% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.

April 6, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Two yellow and white Dallas Area Rapid Transit light rail streetcars at station in Dallas, Texas.

North Texas Transit Leaders Tout Benefits of TOD for Growing Region

At a summit focused on transit-oriented development, policymakers discussed how North Texas’ expanded light rail system can serve as a tool for economic growth.

April 3, 2025 - KERA News

Rusty abandoned oil well and equipment with prickly pear cactus next to it in West Texas.

Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage

Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.

March 31, 2025 - Pennsylvania State University

Aerial view of Spanish revival style buildings with red tile roofs in downtown Santa Barbara, California.

Santa Barbara Could Build Housing on County Land

County supervisors moved forward a proposal to build workforce housing on two county-owned parcels.

April 9 - The Santa Barbara Independent

Green and white interstate freeway signs pointing to Hayward and San Mateo and Half Moon Bay exits in Northern California.

San Mateo Formally Opposes Freeway Project

The city council will send a letter to Caltrans urging the agency to reconsider a plan to expand the 101 through the city of San Mateo.

April 9 - Streetsblog San Francisco

Kingsbridge Armory, large hangar-like brick building in the Bronx, New York City with brick lower floors and glass/metal curved roof..

A Bronx Community Fights to Have its Voice Heard

After organizing and giving input for decades, the community around the Kingsbridge Armory might actually see it redeveloped — and they want to continue to have a say in how it goes.

April 9 - Shelterforce Magazine