Is the office sector doomed? Insights from a roundtable discussion with investment experts

Institutional investors are generally taking a pessimistic view of the office sector. The office sector continues to grapple with increased vacancies, and the younger generation’s reluctance to fully embrace traditional office work and city living. Recent headlines depict cities such as San Francisco and other major metropolitan areas as empty, with businesses and residents departing due to cost and safety concerns.

The question arises: Are American cities stuck in a never-ending downward spiral? Some are quick to respond with a resounding “yes,” while others argue some cities are effectively addressing these issues.

This was discussed during a recent virtual roundtable hosted by Institutional Real Estate, Inc. The panel featured institutional investors, consultants and investment managers and was moderated by Chase McWhorter, managing director, Americas, with IREI.

Among other topics, the roundtable examined the potential long-term implications of shiftin