Transforming vacant commercial properties into urban green spaces

Jun
2025

Steen Uno

In major cities, rows of empty office floors and abandoned office buildings resemble depressing tombstones. Now, a surprising green solution has emerged to tackle this issue - vertical farming or farming at height.

Jun
2025

Steen Uno

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Miles of empty office spaces - global office vacancy rates are setting new records. By the end of 2024, the average office vacancy rate in the US was just under 20% - Phoenix peaked at a whopping 33.4%.

The effects of companies' shift to home and hybrid work after the pandemic are evident: Real estate developers are finding it challenging to repurpose existing spaces, such as by converting them into residential units.

Now, a new green solution is emerging: Vertical farming, which transforms vacant office buildings and land into expansive urban planters.

Controlled environmental farming technology utilizes empty office floors to grow food - such as lettuce, kale, cucumbers, herbs, etc. - in urban areas and other environments where traditional farming is not feasible.

Cheap recycling

Although supply chains have recovered from Covid-19, new global shocks such as climate change, geopolitical unrest, and farmers’ strikes mean they remain vulnerable, prompting cities in the US, Canada, Australia and elsewhere to look for local food production opportunities.

The large, empty office spaces are most ideal for vertical farming. The modular growing and cultivation racks are easy to install and move, allowing green urban agriculture to adapt to virtually any environment.

Miles of empty, vacated office spaces is now being transformed into urban vertical
farms, bringing new life with lettuce, cabbage, herbs, and much more.
Photos: iStock

"Every city dislikes empty properties and spaces that fail to contribute to economic growth. If the new urban farming conversions succeed, we can expect more cities to adopt them as a viable solution.

According to Warren Seay, a real estate finance partner at the US law firm ArentFox Schiff, vertical farming could be a cost-effective way to repurpose vacant office buildings."

Pros & cons

The new indoor urban plant production utilizing disused commercial spaces provides fresh vegetables to the local customers. It has been recognized globally as an innovative and sustainable alternative to traditional farming methods.

Vertical farming minimizes transportation needs, consequently reducing CO2 emissions. New technologies allow water consumption to be decreased by up to 90% compared to conventional agricultural practices.

Additionally, it requires less land, ensures stable production, and is completely unaffected by climate and weather conditions throughout the year.

Experts believe that urban vertical farming has a bright future as common beginner
mistakes are eliminated, circular bioeconomies progresses, advancements in grow
lighting occur, and global demand for raw materials continues to increase.

In the fall, sharply rising energy prices and continued high market interest rates impacted several major vertical farms in the United States, including Plenty Compton Farm in California and Bowery Farming in New York, both of which are currently undergoing reconstruction.

Despite these challenges, experts believe that vertical farming has a promising future. This optimism is grounded in the elimination of early mistakes, the expansion of the circular bioeconomy, advancements in lighting technologies, and the anticipated global increase in demand for raw materials.

Vertical urban farming will continue to sprout, flourish, and transform vacant office spaces into living areas capable of nurturing local communities and redefining our understanding of food production. ●

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