Report: Chicago’s Modern Big-Box Industrial Market Gains Momentum

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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About Jasmine Kilman

Jasmine Kilman is Content Director of Connect Commercial Real Estate, covering Chicago and greater Chicagoland, the Midwest, Seattle, and the Pacific Northwest. She covers industry trends, transaction deals, market research, and produces daily news stories. With experience in marketing and communications for academic nonprofits and corporate clients, including Hearst Media, Hilton, and Coldwell Banker, Kilman has written about commercial real estate, environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG), technology, healthcare, and philanthropy. She was born and raised in California and graduated with a degree in public relations. In her spare time, Kilman enjoys hiking and traveling to new locations with her family.

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