June 1, 2026

In this issue… A24 translates the eerie “Backrooms” internet myth into a practical, physical horror set and story. Developers face a renewed construction-cost surge as materials, fuel, and trade pressures threaten project feasibility. Downtown Atlanta’s billion-dollar reset pushes mixed-use revival, but high office vacancy and safety/housing gaps keep tenants cautious. Office vacancy ticks down as teardowns and conversions outpace new builds, yet demand remains soft amid economic uncertainty and AI job fears. Architecture firms accelerate mergers to solve succession, build scale, and adapt to tech and market volatility. NYC’s top-tier offices move toward $300+ per square foot rents as tenants pay for premium light, views, and amenities amid scarce supply. JLL flags that flex workspace can help—until it exceeds ~17% of rentable area and raises financing risk. Southern metros strengthen as small-business hubs thanks to growth, taxes, and coworking. CRE sales fall sharply as borrowing costs rise and refinancing cliffs loom. Actiu debuts a warm, Mediterranean, human-centered Barcelona showroom concept. The U.S. office furniture market is projected to grow steadily through 2031, driven by hybrid work, replacements, ergonomics, and sustainability. Product highlights include mobile wellness/focus pods from Nook USA, Three H’s wall-free workplace zoning system, and J+J Flooring’s watercolor-inspired Color Wash carpet tiles. Top headlines include leadership and expansion moves at McCoy Rockford, scrutiny over ICE office-expansion furniture contracting, and Actiu’s wellness-focused furniture push into the U.S. market at NeoCon 2026. Workspace notes cover compute constraints slowing AI-driven layoffs and research showing frontline workers feel pressured to cut corners without better tools, training, and support.