Chicago’s modern big-box industrial market is experiencing a resurgence in leasing activity, with 9.1 million square feet leased in the first half of 2026, a 51% year-over-year increase from 6 million square feet in the same period in 2025, according to a recent report by Cushman & Wakefield.
The report highlights renewed occupier demand and improving market fundamentals, with the region seeing the strongest first-half leasing performance since 2021, reflecting demand for large-scale warehouse and distribution facilities and signaling continued momentum in the regional industrial market.
Large-scale transactions have played a critical role in the market’s resurgence. Through mid-2026, six leases exceeding 500,000 square feet were completed. Third-party logistics providers remain the primary source of demand, while manufacturing users also emerged as an important contributor.
Demand has been especially concentrated in newly developed facilities. Approximately 60% of leasing volume completed during the first half of 2026 occurred in facilities delivered since 2020.
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