By Steven Bauer, Colliers The office towers that define Chicago’s landscape have unique histories and personalities, but not all are created equal in the eyes of the tenant. Buildings seeing the highest demand, classified even higher than Class A, are “trophy buildings” — buildings with high-quality finishes, newer and more efficient construction, and are often amenity rich with exclusive lounges, rooftop decks, fitness centers and private bars. It’s especially important in today’s market to distinguish between the two distinct building categories because while Chicago’s real estate market is a vibrant and complex one, there is more to the story than what you see in the headlines. While the overall vacancy rate in the Loop remains at a historic high above 25 percent, trophy space vacancy is under 10 percent, and demand continues to be robust. The story of flight to quality and flight to trophy assets has been told repeatedly since the COVID pandemic — complete with statistics that back the trend up. In the fourth quarter of 2024 alone, owners of trophy class buildings finalized anchor tenant renewals with Mayer Brown and PwC, both of whom kept roughly the same square footage as they had previously leased. With the …
