By Eric Engelbert
From Cubicles to Condos: How Empty Office Space Is Becoming Housing
Across the country, a quiet transformation is taking place as vacant office towers are being reimagined as residential spaces. What is driving this shift? In the wake of the pandemic, millions of employees transitioned to remote or hybrid work, leaving behind vast amounts of underused office space. Many companies have downsized their physical footprints, and older office buildings, often outdated and costly to modernize, have struggled to attract new tenants.
As a result, developers and city planners are finding creative new uses for these vacant properties. Instead of letting them sit idle, they are transforming them into much-needed housing, turning cubicles into condos and boardrooms into bedrooms. What started as an urban experiment in cities like New York and Washington, D.C. is now becoming a smart, sustainable housing solution here in Southern California, including right here in Orange County.
National Success Stories
In New York City, the historic One Wall Street building is one of the most successful examples of an office-to-residential conversion. The 50-story Art Deco landmark was gutted and rebuilt from the inside out, creating over 500 luxury condominiums while preserving the original limestone façade.
In Washington, D.C., the long-vacant Cotton Annex building underwent a similar transformation, turning an outdated federal office into high-end rental apartments. These projects demonstrate that adaptive reuse, keeping the exterior structure intact while rebuilding the interior, can be both profitable and sustainable.
Southern California Joins the Movement
Here in Southern California, adaptive reuse is accelerating.
Developers like Jamison Services in Los Angeles have led the charge, converting several Wilshire Boulevard office buildings into hundreds of apartments. Projects such as 3325 Wilshire and 3550 Wilshire kept their existing towers standing, focusing on complete interior reconfiguration and modern residential amenities. These transformations are reshaping Los Angeles neighborhoods that were once dominated by mid-century commercial buildings.
Cities are now encouraging this type of redevelopment. Los Angeles, Long Beach, and Santa Ana have all adopted policies to make conversions easier, including faster permitting and zoning flexibility, as a way to address housing shortages while revitalizing aging office corridors.
Orange County’s First Success: 888 on Main in Santa Ana
Orange County has its own standout example: 888 on Main in downtown Santa Ana.
Originally built in the 1960s as an office tower, the nine-story building sat largely vacant for years. Instead of tearing it down, developers preserved the exterior shell and completely rebuilt the interior into 148 modern workforce apartments, complete with a rooftop deck, fitness center, and ground-floor live/work spaces.
The result is a sleek urban residence that honors Santa Ana’s architectural history while adding much-needed housing in the heart of the city. The project has become a model for future conversions across Orange County, showing that office buildings can have a second life without starting from scratch.
A Major Upcoming Example: MacArthur Court in Newport Beach
Looking ahead, one of the largest potential conversion projects in Orange County is planned for MacArthur Court in Newport Beach.
The Irvine Company, which owns much of the surrounding office and retail space, has proposed adding approximately 700 apartments to the site. The plan keeps the two existing 15-story office towers in place while converting or redeveloping nearby low-rise structures into residential units and community amenities.
If approved and completed, MacArthur Court could become one of the most significant adaptive reuse projects in the county, a blueprint for how commercial campuses can evolve to meet modern housing demand.
What About the Westminster Mall?
While not an office conversion, the Westminster Mall redevelopment is another major local transformation. The plan calls for complete demolition of the existing mall structures, followed by new construction of housing, retail, and public spaces. It is a ground-up rebuild, different from the adaptive reuse approach seen at 888 on Main or MacArthur Court.
Why Adaptive Reuse Works
Reusing existing buildings is not just a creative architectural challenge, it is a smart real estate strategy.
By retaining structural shells, developers save on demolition costs and reduce environmental waste. Cities benefit from revitalized corridors and faster housing delivery, while residents gain unique homes with history and character.
In markets like Orange County, where developable land is scarce and office vacancy rates are climbing, adaptive reuse offers a practical path forward. Expect to see more of these projects appear in the next few years, especially in central business districts and along transit corridors.
Orange County has always been known for its master-planned communities and brand-new developments, but the next wave of housing might come from unexpected places: the empty office towers and commercial buildings that once defined its skyline. From 888 on Main in Santa Ana to the upcoming MacArthur Court redevelopment in Newport Beach, adaptive reuse is quietly reshaping the way Orange County grows. These conversions do not just create housing; they preserve local history, reduce waste, and breathe new life into underused spaces.
Thinking About Buying or Selling in Orange County?
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