U.S. Office Vacancy Rates Are Dropping—And It’s Opening New Doors for Renovation Projects

The U.S. office market is turning a corner. For the first time in over five years, vacancy rates are trending downward—and it’s not just a blip. According to CBRE and JLL’s Q3 2025 reports, leasing activity is up, office attendance is stabilizing, and tenant footprints are no longer shrinking. The era of “wait and see” is fading—and a new cycle of growth, retrofits, and workplace investment is emerging.

At Avanti Systems USA, we’re already seeing the impact. And we’re ready to help architects, glaziers, and building owners deliver beautiful, high-performance interiors that meet this moment.

Market Shifts Driving the Comeback

Here’s what the data says:

  • Vacancy Decline: CBRE reports that vacancy rates fell by 20 basis points in Q3—the first annual drop since Q1 2020. JLL confirms this trend nationally, noting that Q3 saw the first vacancy drop since 2019.

  • Leasing Activity Surging: Leasing volumes are climbing. CBRE recorded 59.8 million sq. ft. in Q3 alone, with blocks of 10,000–20,000 sq. ft. accounting for more than half of all leases. JLL reports a 6.5% quarterly growth in gross leasing and a return to 90%+ pre-pandemic activity in multiple markets.

  • Reduced Construction Pipeline: With just 16 million sq. ft. under construction—the lowest in a decade—building owners are turning to upgrades, not new builds, to attract and retain tenants.

Prime Space Preference: The vacancy rate for top-tier buildings fell faster than for lower-tier buildings. But as trophy inventory tightens, demand is rising for second-generation spaces—especially those offering flexibility, modern aesthetics, and acoustic performance.

What This Means for Architects, Glaziers & Building Owner 

With fewer new developments and growing demand for updated, functional interiors, the opportunity lies in revitalizing existing spaces. And this is where Avanti Systems USA plays a crucial role.

Whether it’s a high-rise in Manhattan undergoing a premium retrofit or a mid-tier office building in Dallas repositioning for new tenants, the right interior glass solutions can dramatically enhance usability, aesthetics, and tenant satisfaction.

Avanti Systems That Meet This Moment

We offer a nationally available range of interior glass wall systems and doors tailored for modern office retrofits, flexible floor plans, and accelerated timelines:

Wall Systems

Door Systems

Frameless Glass Swing Door: A minimal, modern solution that integrates seamlessly with our glass wall systems and supports open-yet-private office environments.

Why Choose Avanti for Office Renovations?

  • National Reach: We work across the U.S., supporting architects, GCs, and glaziers coast to coast.

  • Quick Turnaround: Our modular systems are engineered for fast deployment and easy installation.

  • Acoustic & Aesthetic Excellence: Meet modern workplace demands for sound privacy, transparency, and clean design.

  • Demountability & Flexibility: Ideal for landlords seeking flexibility in long-term leasing strategies.

Experienced Support: Our team helps with everything from spec guidance to contractor coordination.

Rethinking Office Design in 2025 and Beyond

With Fortune 100 companies reinstating full-time office attendance and mid-size firms expanding footprints again, the office is far from obsolete—it’s being reimagined.

Whether you’re repositioning Class A assets or upgrading overlooked Tier 2 inventory, now is the time to invest in solutions that balance performance, speed, and design.

Ready to Talk Retrofits?

Let’s build spaces that work for today’s teams—and tomorrow’s tenants.

Contact our specification team to explore systems, get spec support, or discuss your next retrofit project.

To book your consultation call click here or call us. 
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