U.S. Northeast

The Northeast remains one of the nation’s most resilient real estate markets, driven by a deep mix of corporate, institutional, and healthcare investment. Financial, law, and technology firms continue to shape demand for new and upgraded workplaces, while universities and health systems are advancing major capital programs. Boston’s strong innovation economy attracts ongoing investment while New York surges with numerous new office towers and an active building conversion project pipeline. Across the region, the winners are spaces that deliver flexibility, proximity to transit, and a sense of place. Developers and corporate occupiers are embracing design as strategy — aligning amenities, wellness, and adaptive reuse to attract tenants and talent in a market that’s selective, expensive, and fiercely competitive.
What’s Next

Corporate reinvestment powers a workplace renaissance.

Across the region, tenants recommit to high-quality office space, even as unrenovated Class B and C buildings struggle. Large financial, law, and technology firms drive new workplace projects and high-performance interiors that emphasize client engagement, memorable experiences, and amenities that build culture and promote wellness.

Reuse and repositioning turn aging assets into modern opportunities.

Limited new construction and changing tenant needs fuel new adaptive reuse projects, including office-to-residential conversions in legacy buildings and the modernization of labs and institutional facilities. Developers prioritize strategic upgrades that extend asset life and improve performance.

Healthcare and education investment expands.

Health systems and universities invest in flexible, patient- and student-centered facilities. Outpatient centers, medical office buildings, and research-driven academic environments attract capital and drive steady construction activity.

Design-led strategy and data intelligence define the next development cycle.

Developers who use design intelligence to create adaptive, tech-enabled, and experience-forward spaces attract tenants and investors. The emphasis shifts from “newness” to “smartness,” and projects that perform better socially, spatially, and financially.
Notable Projects
A man walking in a hallway.
AllianceBernstein at Hudson Yards, New York
A group of people walking inside a building.
Terminal One at JFK Intl. Airport, Queens, New York
A large sculpture of a spider.
IBM Flagship Office at One Madison Avenue, New York
A building with a parking lot.
Microsoft Mass Timber Hyperscale Data Centers, Northern Virginia
insights from the Gensler Research Institute

The Northeast Leads All U.S. Regions In City Satisfaction

Residents in the Northeast report the highest overall satisfaction in the country — four points above the U.S. average. This high level of confidence reflects a deep attachment to city life, where access, culture, and opportunity continue to define the urban experience and sustain investment in walkable, amenity-rich environments.
How satisfied are you with the following aspects of your city?
  • Walkability
  • Neighborhood amenities
  • Recreation and entertainment
  • Boston
    New York
How satisfied are you with your city’s overall experience?
  • Overall city experience
  • Northeast
    U.S. Average
Source: Gensler City Pulse 2025
Notable Areas of Expertise
Offices
Thought Leadership
A group of people in an office.
Blog

Test, Don’t Guess: A New Approach for Healthcare Design

Healthcare leaders are modeling multiple futures before breaking ground — shifting from fixed bets to flexible strategies.
A man and woman walking in a large room with tables and chairs.
Blog

The Future of Real Estate Metrics: Human Connection

The places that thrive in the years ahead will be designed to build relationships, inspire belonging, and foster togetherness.
A group of people sitting in a room with a large glass wall.
Blog

Human and ‘Digital Employee’ Collaboration Will Transform Workplace Design

AI integration will soon impact physical spaces, potentially reshaping individual and group culture within organizations.
A group of people at a park.
Blog

Families Are Leaving Cities — Here’s How to Win Them Back

Children are critical to well-functioning cities. How can we ensure our cities work well for children and encourage parents to stay?
A person walking in a room.
Blog

The Future of Work Is Human: Designing for Culture and Experience

The challenge in front of us is to design places that empower creativity, build belonging, and support people and teams to do their best work — whatever that looks like.
A large building with many windows.
Blog

What Draws People to Cities — and What Makes Them Stay?

Gensler’s City Pulse 2025 research offers insights into the factors attracting people to cities and compelling them to stay.
A group of people sitting in chairs.
Blog

The Convergence of Tech and the Financial Workplace

The financial workplace is taking cues from the tech industry, shifting from one-size-fits-most to always-in-beta mode.
A group of people sitting in chairs.
Blog

How Strategic Partnerships Are Shaping Academic Campus Development

Facing respective challenges, institutional-private sector collaborations can offer mutually beneficial opportunities for universities to expand their reach, optimize real estate, and enhance campus vitality, while providing developers with stable, high-value investment options.
A group of people sitting on a bench in front of a building.
Blog

The Building as Brand: A Watershed Opportunity in Manhattan Office

As the city’s commercial real estate market undergoes unprecedented transformation, office space must be seen not as a commodity, but as a strategic investment with the potential to drive competitive advantage.
A person lying on a bed.
Blog

Realizing the Value of Artificial Intelligence When Planning Tomorrow’s Healthcare Facilities

The true value of AI lies not just in its ability to revolutionize devices and treatments but in its power to drive ROI through smarter, more adaptable healthcare environments.
A group of people sitting on a bench in a city.
Blog

Trends to Watch: What Other Cities Can Learn From New York City’s Conversion Boom

As U.S. cities experience high commercial real estate vacancy rates and housing shortages, developers have an opportunity to invest in and convert stranded assets.
A person in a white coat in a room with white cabinets.
Blog

How AI and Emerging Technologies Will Transform the Future of Labs

From AI and machine learning to quantum computing, we explore how technological advancements are redefining how scientists work.
A group of people in a room.
Blog

How Large, Adaptable Multi-Purpose and Event Spaces Are Transforming the Financial Services Workplace

Major financial institutions are incorporating large, multi-purpose event spaces into their new office designs — even in cities where square footage comes at a premium.
A group of people riding bikes.
Blog

Conversions for Healthcare:
10 Takeaways for the Future

As healthcare systems shift to a new model of distributed care, adaptive reuse of older buildings will be an important strategy to sustainably achieve their goals.
A bedroom with a bed and chairs.
Blog

Pearl House: Explore the Transformation of New York’s Largest Office-to-Residential Conversion to Date

Gensler and Vanbarton Group detail how they partnered to convert a 1970s office tower into a thriving residential community in New York’s Financial District.
A group of people sitting around a table.
Blog

What Young Associates Want From Modern Law Firms

The legal workplace plays a critical role in retention. Now, more than ever, it must deliver an experience.
U.S. North Central
U.S. Southwest
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Conversions+™ by Gensler
Determine if an office building is a candidate for residential conversion.
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