Reimagining America’s Empty Office Buildings

Participants gathered Oct. 21, 2025, at The Pew Charitable Trusts’ offices for a timely discussion with industry leaders, policymakers, and researchers from across the country who are working on creative solutions to address the nation’s housing shortage.

The day-long event included panel discussions about adaptive reuse and office-to-residential conversions, the costs and benefits, and recent developments in co-living of all types. Attendees gained insights from industry leaders in housing, urban policy, and finance who are working to tackle the housing shortage in the United States.

Agenda 

8-9 a.m.: Registration and welcome breakfast

9-9:10 a.m.: Opening remarks

9:10-10 a.m.: Office-to-co-living conversions

A panel discussion about the costs, benefits, and feasibility of co-living and office-to-residential conversions.

10-10:50 a.m.: Impact panel

A panel discussion with civic leaders about efforts to bring co-living and office conversions to market, obstacles, and lessons learned.

11:15 a.m.-noon: Office-to-co-living financing research presentation and discussion

A panel discussion on the prospects, challenges, and opportunities for financing office-to-co-living developments.

Noon-1 p.m.: Lunch   

1-1:30 p.m.: Policy spotlight

States are enacting reforms to legalize co-living, make it easier to build housing in commercial areas, and convert existing commercial buildings to residential use.

1:30-2:30 p.m.: What do we know about demand? A co-living practitioner panel

A panel discussion about existing and potential demand as well as key lessons from practitioners about management, marketing, and the financial viability of co-living and adaptive reuse.

2:30-3:45 p.m.: Workshop: Overcoming Barriers to Adaptive Reuse of Office Space for Co-Living Conversions

A facilitated discussion with attendees about the major barriers facing conversions and how to overcome them.

3:45-4 p.m.: Closing remarks

4-5 p.m.: Reception