Early-2026 Class A occupancy reached 85.52% from 83.59%, while Class B rose to 62.72%; the Essen-Bluebonnet corridor hit about 90.7%, overtaking downtown for the first time since 2019.
Downtown Class A occupancy fell to 81.65% from 86.15%, hurt by vacancies including at One American Place, while most leasing came from existing tenants relocating or upgrading rather than new companies.
Wampold Companies and Stirling Properties average about 92% occupancy across 11 Class A towers, but high construction costs, obsolete older buildings and tight capital still constrain new development and shell-space leasing.
With tenants demanding premium spaces, who will pay to upgrade Baton Rouge's vast inventory of aging offices?
As suburban offices thrive, can Baton Rouge save its emptying downtown towers from obsolescence?