Chicago's office story has split in two. Downtown direct vacancy hit 24.7% in Q1 2026 — but trophy vacancy is just 11.4%, and on floors above the 25th, it's 8.4%. Class A leasing accounted for over half of all new deals in Q1, the average new lease is now 9,000 SF, and Mars Wrigley, IMC, Ropes & Gray, and Benesch all expanded into premier towers in the last six months. Meanwhile, Chicago's 11 biggest office tenants spent roughly $600 million on interior buildouts over the last three years, with elite fit-outs running north of $300 per square foot.

This is no longer a "fill the building" problem in the abstract. It's a "win the tenant" problem — and the playbook is being rewritten in real time. The third edition of Bisnow's How to Fill Your Building Summit brings together the landlords, brokers, tenants, and experience operators actually moving the leasing needle in 2026.

What's in Store

1. Trophy vs. Everything Else

   • Why trophy vacancy is falling while overall vacancy is at a record — and what mid-tier owners are doing about it

2. The $300/SF Buildout Era

   • When TI packages clear $300/SF, the negotiation isn't about money anymore — it's about partnership, trust, and risk allocation

3. The Modern Tenant in 2026

   • Law firms expanding, energy/engineering firms scaling, BCG-style consultancies anchoring buildings — what does today's end user actually want, and what's just expensive theater?

4. Repositioning vs. Conversion

   • The lower tier is shrinking through office-to-residential conversion. What does that mean for the buildings stuck in the middle?

5. The Capital Side of the Negotiation

   • When a distressed landlord promises a $200/SF TI and comes up short, who steps in — and how lenders are now in the room on every major lease

6. Building New in 2026

   • Related Midwest, Hines, John Buck are all shopping new West Loop tower plans needing $100+ PSF pre-leases. Is anyone close?

7. Experience as a Leasing Tool

   • Amenity programming, concierge services, F&B partnerships, on-site activations — what's table stakes, what's overkill, and what's actually moving leases?

How You'll Do More Business

Filling a Chicago building in 2026 takes a different team than it did three years ago. The right tenant rep, the right experience operator, the right architect, the right TI package, the right capital partner — they all show up in the same negotiation now. This is the morning to put yourself in front of all of them at once.

Who You'll Network With At This Event: The region's leading tenant rep brokers, owners, developers, investors, consultants, accountants, bankers and city and government officials.

Why You Should Attend This Program: 

Bisnow events convene the biggest power players in the industry to help you grow your business across a complex market. With engaging discussions, exclusive networking opportunities, and the largest and most equipped audience in the field, Bisnow’s unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities of the market makes attendance a value add for any CRE professional. 

Questions about your ticket purchase or interested in sponsoring? 

Reach out to customerservice@bisnow.com for customer support. For questions, recommendations, comments or press inquiries please email our Chicago event producer Will Follett at will.follett@bisnow.com. To request disability-related accommodations, please contact janet.fernandez@bisnow.com no later than seven business days prior to the event.

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