Many offices have fewer workers than before. Some people now work from home part of the week. At the same time, many cities need more homes. So, old work spaces are getting a new life. (brookings.edu)
This change is called an office-to-home conversion. “Conversion” means changing a building’s main use. Workers add kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms, and new walls. They must also make the building safe and comfortable.
The idea sounds simple, but it can be difficult. Some office shapes do not work well for homes. Building work can cost a lot. Local rules may also slow the project. For these reasons, every office cannot become a home. (brookings.edu)
Still, the idea is already helping some cities. In 2025, several downtown projects opened in Calgary. Together, they created almost 500 homes. (newsroom.calgary.ca) Now, places once filled with desks have beds and families. The change can bring people back downtown. It can also give an old building a useful future.










