Atlanta office visits outpace most major metros in post-pandemic rebound
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Atlanta's office buildings haven't bounced back to pre-pandemic levels — but they didn't become ghost towns either, according to a new analysis.
Why it matters: Offices aren't just rows of desks. They provide opportunities for networking and mentorship, and some CEOs say they've discovered their companies move faster when employees share the same space.
By the numbers: July metro Atlanta office visits were 14.8% lower than July 2019 levels, according to the Placer.ai Nationwide Office Building Index.
Yes, but: Office visits are up 10% compared to July 2024.
Zoom in: Atlanta had the second-best showing of a major metropolitan area behind Miami and New York City — the first of the major metros tracked by Placer.ai to return to growth since COVID hit.
How it works: Placer.ai tracks foot traffic at 1,000 commercial office buildings with ground-floor retail nationwide.
In the weeds: Ken Ashley, the executive director of commercial real estate firm Cushman & Wakefield in Atlanta, told Axios return to work mandates, cabin fever and employers making offices more enticing for workers all play a role.
- According to a February 2025 Cushman & Wakefield survey, 81% of respondents said their company had an in-office mandate.
- Nearly 70% of those respondents said the mandate did not increase turnover.
What they're saying: One senior tech executive told Ashley their company recently implemented a rule requiring new hires to live within a specific radius of the office, Ashley said.
- "It might require two weeks to get on someone's calendar for a video meeting, or I could just see them coming back in from lunch and ask them a question," he said, relaying the conversation.
- "And if we've got important decisions that can be made with a brief conversation, we can accelerate the pace of business."
What to watch: Whether the numbers drop again in August when white-collar workers take their final family vacations before school starts.