As remote work rose and demand for office space declined since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, developers have found converting some offices to residential use to be an attractive option.
Apartment conversions rose 25% in the two years since the start of the pandemic, with 28,000 new units converted from other property types, according to a report from RentCafe. By comparison, new apartment volume rose just 10% over the same period.
Of the total number of conversions, 11,090 new units are the result of office-to-apartment conversions, which have risen more than 40% between 2020 and 2021, representing an all-time high. An additional 77,000 adaptive reuse units are currently being converted.
Washington, D.C., leads the nation in most apartment conversions, with 1,565 new adaptive reuse units in 2020 and 2021—more than double the amount between 2018 and 2019. Overall, Washington, D.C., has 5.6% of the total adaptive reuse projects in the U.S.
Related Stories
Multifamily Housing | Jul 23, 2019
Is prefab in your future?
The most important benefit of offsite construction, when done right, is reliability.
Multifamily Housing | Jul 17, 2019
What multifamily developers are saying about Ori Living's robotic interior system
This robotically controlled, space-saving furniture system can add more than 100 square feet of usable space to apartment units.
Multifamily Housing | Jul 17, 2019
Robotic interiors: How to make a studio apartment feel as big as a one-bedroom unit
Meet Ori Living's robotically controlled, space-saving furniture system.
Multifamily Housing | Jul 17, 2019
Cost of living: Apartment construction costs for 2019
Using RSMeans data from Gordian, here are the most recent construction costs for low-rise and mid-rise apartment buildings across 10 U.S. cities.
Multifamily Housing | Jul 15, 2019
Call for entries: Student housing roundup
We're looking for the best new "student housing" communities for our Fall Issue of Multifamily Design+Construction.
Multifamily Housing | Jul 15, 2019
7 new multifamily developments to track this summer
Ballpark living in Anaheim, Calif., and a water-friendly apartment complex in Seattle highlight the noteworthy multifamily developments to open in 2019.
Multifamily Housing | Jun 27, 2019
David Baker Architects wins 2019 HUD 'best in affordable housing' honor
The firm's Williams Terrace project is the first dedicated housing for Charleston, S.C.’s low-income seniors. It's one of four developments to win 2019 AIA/HUD housing awards.
Building Tech | Jun 26, 2019
Modular construction can deliver projects 50% faster
Modular construction can deliver projects 20% to 50% faster than traditional methods and drastically reshape how buildings are delivered, according to a new report from McKinsey & Co.
Design Innovation Report | Jun 25, 2019
2019 Design Innovation Report: Super labs, dream cabins, office boardwalks, façades as art
9 projects that push the limits of architectural design, space planning, and material innovation.
Multifamily Housing | Jun 25, 2019
Historic New York hospital becomes multifamily development
CetraRuddy designed the project and Delshah Capital is the developer.
