Event Time: 11:00 AM-12:00 PM CT

On Wednesday, February 11, 2026, join the Chicago Fed’s Economic Mobility Project for the virtual event, Amenities and Office Vacancy Rates: What Really Draws Workers Back to the Office? Office vacancy rates remain high across U.S. cities as employers experiment with hybrid work schedules and invest in workplace upgrades meant to lure employees back. But which features matter? Presenting new research, Chicago Fed business economist Martin Lavelle will explore how amenities, building age, and design choices influence office vacancy rates in Chicago, Detroit, and other cities across the nation. Also examining where common assumptions about return-to-office enticements falter, Lavelle will discuss how his recent research challenges some of the most popular narratives in commercial real estate.

The event will begin with framing remarks from Samir Mayekar of the University of Chicago’s Polsky Center. Drawing from his experiences in city government and as an entrepreneur, Mayekar will set the broader context for why office market outcomes matter for developers, tenants, and workers, as well as for downtown vitality. Following Lavelle’s research presentation, there will be a panel discussion. Tracy Hadden Loh of Brookings Metro will offer her views on office markets through a national urban policy and downtown revitalization lens. Amy Binstein of Newmark will share her perspective on current commercial real estate dynamics. And Mayekar will return to connect the research and data to urban development challenges and opportunities in Chicago, Detroit, and other cities. The discussion will be moderated by Danny Ecker, who covers the commercial real estate landscape for Crain’s Chicago Business.