Ottawa office market report

Downtown Recovery Shaped by Quality, Access, and Efficiency

Downtown Ottawa’s office market continues to face challenges, as accessibility issues and limited parking availability weigh on recovery and deter suburban commuters. Despite renewed employer interest in central locations, unreliable transit and high parking costs continue to slow leasing momentum. The “flight to quality” remains the defining trend, with demand concentrated in modern, turnkey class A spaces while older buildings are increasingly converted to residential use, removing 1.3 million square feet of obsolete inventory. Tenants are also right sizing their footprints, prioritizing efficiency, flexibility, and employee experience over expansion. Landlords offering well-located, move-in ready spaces with upgraded amenities and sustainability features are best positioned to capture this evolving demand.