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San Diego, CA Office Overview
Among sunny San Diego’s most prosperous commercial real estate scenes are Sorrento Valley, East Village and University City submarkets. With a metropolitan population of over 3.3 million people, the economy is dynamic and robust, and the San Diego commercial real estate market continues to expand around a vibrant mix of business and industry.
As of mid-2017, the Greater San Diego office market consisted of nearly 61 million square feet of space in properties larger than 50,000 square feet. Due to the city's unique geographic location between Southern California and Mexico, the market continues to see strong demand.
San Diego, CA Office Inventory Description
The city's Pacific Coast location and proximity to Mexico plays a major role in the culture of the business community and office development. Nearly 60% of the office space in San Diego is Class A, while Class B properties make up another 39% of the city’s inventory.
Located along the I-8 and Friars Road, Mission Valley East is one of San Diego’s densest office markets and home to Pacific Center I & 2, and the Centerside 3111 & 3131 properties. Businesses such as General Dynamics and First American Title Insurance Company are located in Mission Valley.
Other growing San Diego office submarkets include the Kearny Mesa area, Rancho Bernardo along the I-15 South, and the Scripps Ranch area, which is home to trophy buildings such as the Scripps Corporate Plaza.
San Diego, CA Commercial Inventory Breakdown
Office Spaces
Total: 97,102,440 SF
By square footage range:
- 50k to 100k SF: 24,170,993 SF / 24.89% of total office
- 100k to 500k SF: 59,454,153 SF / 61.23% of total office
- 500k to 1M SF: 6,977,294 SF / 7.19% of total office
- > 1M SF: 6,500,000 SF / 6.69% of total office
By class:
- Class A+: 2,284,108 SF / 2.35% of total office
- Class A: 45,034,823 SF / 46.38% of total office
- Class B: 35,951,139 SF / 37.02% of total office
- Class C: 1,136,226 SF / 1.17% of total office
Top 10 Largest Office Buildings
in San Diego
| Office building | Address | Sqft | Year built |
|---|---|---|---|
| One America Plaza | 600 W. Broadway, 92101 | 625,800 | 1991 |
| One America Plaza | 600 West Broadway, 92101 | 623,000 | 1991 |
| Rancho Vista Corporate Center - Hewlett-Packard Campus | 16399 West Bernardo Drive, 92127 | 622,211 | 1970 |
| 701 B St. | 701 B St., 92101 | 572,631 | 1982 |
| 701 B Street | 701 B Street, 92101 | 560,329 | 1982 |
| 1 Columbia Place | 401 West A Street, 92101 | 556,943 | 1983 |
| 10210 Genetic Center Drive | 10210 Genetic Center Drive, 92121 | 550,800 | 1998 |
| Summit Rancho Bernardo - 16550 West Bernardo Drive | 16550 West Bernardo Drive, 92127 | 542,328 | 2016 |
| Symphony Towers | 750 B Street, 92101 | 530,000 | 1990 |
| Wells Fargo Plaza | 401 B Street, 92101 | 488,000 | 1983 |
Largest Office Properties Recently Completed
in San Diego
| Office building | Address | Sqft | Year built |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cubic Corporation Headquarters | 9233 Balboa Avenue, 92123 | 250,000 | 2021 |
| 2100 Kettner - Little Italy | 2100 Kettner Blvd, 92101 | 234,000 | 2021 |
| Aperture Del Mar - Building 1 | NEC of Ted Williams Fwy & Carmel Valley Road, 92130 | 122,308 | 2021 |
| Aperture Del Mar - Building 2 | NEC of Ted Williams Fwy & Carmel Valley Road, 92130 | 106,734 | 2021 |
| Muse at Torrey Pines - 3030 Science Park Road | 3030 Science Park Road, 92121 | 94,456 | 2021 |
| Twenty by Six | 450 B Street, 92101 | 88,278 | 2021 |
| The Boardwalk - 10265 Science Center Drive | 10265 Science Center Drive, 92121 | 78,116 | 2021 |
| The Boardwalk - 10275 Science Center Drive | 10275 Science Center Drive, 92121 | 76,408 | 2021 |
| Pacific Highway Plaza | 4250 Pacific Hwy, 92110 | 75,401 | 2021 |
| Downtown Innovation and Cultural Hub at Park and Market | 601 11th Avenue, 92101 | 66,750 | 2021 |
San Diego, CA Green Office Space
Of the Top 30 Green Office Markets in the U.S., San Diego ranks 19th for energy efficient office buildings. While just over 3% of the buildings larger than 50,000 square feet are LEED Certified, over 6% rank as Energy Star Certified and over 8% are recognized as green buildings.
As both tenants and investors seek out green certified assets to complete their portfolios, the green office trend continues to accelerate. According to the most recent report from the San Diego U.S. Green Building Council, there are nearly 600 LEED-certified Projects with a total of more than 59 million square feet of space in the San Diego metropolitan area.
The 2017 National Green Building Adoption Index looked at commercial office properties in 30 major U.S. markets and found that, including EPA Energy Star-labeled buildings, the percentage of green certification has increased, from just under 5% in 2005 to 38% as of mid-2017. San Diego has most recently placed 19th on this survey.
San Diego, CA's Top Office-Using Sectors
Major users of San Diego office space include the defense & military, tourism, international trade and technology & manufacturing industries. This diverse mix of business combined with a growing number of small businesses and start-up companies continue to attract both national and global office investors, contributing to the San Diego area's nearly $220 billion in annual gross metropolitan product.
- Defense & Military – San Diego is home to a deep-water seaport that includes the only major submarine and shipbuilding yard on the West Coast. Defense contractors such as General Atomics, Cubic, and NASSCO are headquartered here and contribute to the demand for Class A office space in San Diego.
- Tourism – With over 34 million annual visitors spending $1 billion tourism plays a major role in the San Diego economy and job market, with Marriott International and Club Med North America located in the city.
- International Trade – With its commercial seaport and prime location relative to Mexico international trade companies play a significant role in the demand for San Diego office space, such as Mitchell International and UTC Aerospace Systems.
- Technology – San Diego is home to technology companies such as Qualcomm, Nokia, LG Electronics, and Kyocera International.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does office space cost in San Diego, CA?
The average office rental rate in San Diego, CA is $35.52 per square foot. Asking prices vary based on the property’s location, overall rating, amenities, proximity to restaurants, cafes and entertainment venues, as well as public transport, airports and highways. Check San Diego Office Market Trends for more stats.
What is the size of available office spaces in San Diego, CA?
The San Diego, CA office market can accommodate various businesses, sporting a range of office space availabilities. The average size of office space availabilities is 500,051 square feet. If you’re just starting out as a company or as an entrepreneur, the smallest available office space in San Diego, CA is 102 square feet, while the maximum rentable space on the market now is 1,000,000 square feet.
How do I get office space in San Diego, CA?
Start your search for office space in San Diego, CA by using our filters that allow you to find the best space for your business needs. Filter listings by location, property size, available space or lease rate. Property pages will offer details about an office building’s rating, year built, availabilities, price per square foot and more. After drawing up a shortlist, make sure you contact the listed broker(s) to schedule a viewing and begin the negotiation process for your lease contract.
How many office listings are available in San Diego, CA?
There are 1,065 office listings on the San Diego, CA market. See all available office spaces for rent.
Where to rent an office space in San Diego, CA?
Popular San Diego neighbourhoods with available office spaces include Sorrento Valley, University City and Kearny Mesa.
What other property types are available for lease in San Diego, CA?
In addition to traditional office spaces, commercial real estate listings on our platform also include coworking & shared office space options, retail spaces, industrial buildings, warehouses, distribution facilities, and more.
San Diego Demographics
Population
- Total Population1,409,573
- Male Population(50.5 %) 711,134
- Female Population(49.5 %) 698,439
- Median Age34.90
Income/Financial
- Average Household Income$108,864
- Median Household Income$79,673
- Median Income Under 25$40,773
- Median Income 25-44$84,962
- Median Income 45-64$92,706
- Median Income Over 65$59,709
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