Agility has become the defining strategy in the current office landscape. That\u2019s because developers who can pivot quickly are better-positioned to mitigate losses and adapt to shifting demand. This trend is evident not only in the ongoing contraction of construction volumes across major U.S. markets, but also in the strategic pausing of high-profile projects. A notable example is IQHQ\u2019s life sciences development in Boston, where vertical construction on the nearly 960,000-square-foot lab project has been halted until the developer secures a 50% pre-leasing commitment.<\/p>\n
Despite these pauses, new construction starts have recently increased: According to Yardi Research data, nearly half of the 28.9 million square feet currently under construction consists of projects that broke ground in 2025. While this volume remains below the record highs seen immediately following the pandemic, the significant increase in the last 12 months provides an encouraging signal to developers regarding the potential for future project growth.<\/p>\n
Click on the highlights in the executive summary below to learn more development insights and details on the largest office projects scheduled for completion this year.<\/em><\/p>\n Executive summary<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n At the start of 2026, an estimated 28.9 million square feet of office space was under construction across the U.S. The overarching trend is similar to last year with developers slowing production to drive down vacancy rates and allow demand to catch up.<\/p>\n For instance, Boston \u2014 a perennial leader in the national office pipeline in the last few years due to its role as the epicenter of the life sciences boom \u2014 has further cut its projected output. At 4.1 million square feet, it\u2019s now less than one-quarter of its peak in 2024.<\/p>\n\n
Boston Pipeline Drops to Less Than 25% of Post-COVID-19 Highs<\/h2>\n