Over the past couple of years, the Covid-19 pandemic has reshaped the way we work, with remote work becoming the norm to prevent the virus spreading. Now, with the virus more controlled, the shift towards flexible and self-responsible work has remained, making working from home a preferred option for many. This transformation has led to a surplus of empty office spaces, prompting the need for innovative solutions to repurpose these areas.

Rather than letting these offices remain vacant, one promising idea is to convert them into student housing. Across many countries, students face challenges in finding affordable accommodations near their universities. Repurposing centrally located office spaces could alleviate this housing shortage and provide students with convenient living arrangements.

However, this transformation will require creative thinking and collaborative efforts from architects, designers, developers, investors and brokers. Adapting office spaces into living quarters involves addressing challenges such as the need to adapt the architecture, which was not originally designed for student housing. Overcoming these hurdles will be a significant challenge, but the potential benefits for both students and property owners make it a worthwhile endeavour.

This concept of repurposing empty office spaces is gaining traction globally. In Paris, the Paris-Île de France Capitale Économique and the Maison de l'architecture Ile-de-France have introduced an international award recognising outstanding conversions of office spaces into housing. Similarly, the City of London has ambitious plans to create at least 1500 residential units by 2030 through the conversion of office buildings. The Canadian Urban Institute is also actively exploring the potential for similar projects in cities like Victoria and Winnipeg, with promising initial results.

By dedicating time and resources to research and fully understanding the potential of converting office spaces into housing, we can unlock new opportunities and shape a more adaptive and sustainable future. This seminar aims to explore various perspectives, involving stakeholders from different fields to collectively contribute to the success of this transformative trend.