Aerospace and defence occupiers in Chicago typically cluster in The Loop, plan ~210 sqft per seat at high-end fit-out ($200–290/sqft), and pay around 52 USD/sqft ($52 USD) on Class A.
Aerospace and defence occupiers in Chicago typically cluster in The Loop, plan ~210 sqft per seat at high-end fit-out">fit-out ($200–290/sqft), and pay around 52 USD/sqft ($52 USD) on Class A.
Aerospace and defence occupiers in Chicago typically anchor in The Loop. Banking, professional services, legal, insurance.
Class A rent in Chicago runs 52 USD/sqft ($52 USD) on a 10-year lease with 22 months free. Prime submarkets sit at or modestly above the city index.
Typical aerospace and defence fit-out targets high-end specification at $200–290/sqft. Branded reception, full client-facing programming, premium furniture, and specialist AV are standard.
Plan around 210 sqft per seat blended (workstation + circulation + amenity). A 100-headcount aero/defence office in Chicago typically targets 21,000 sqft of leasable area.
Programme leadership and contracting teams concentrate near government anchors; cleared-personnel logistics drive submarket selection. Deep professional-services, fintech, and trading talent pool. Average all-in compensation indexes 88 vs. New York.
Headline corporate tax: 28.5%. Modified-gross with op-ex escalations over a base year. Rent-free 18-30 months and TI $120-$200/sqft on a 10-year term are current market.
| city | Chicago |
|---|---|
| industry | Aerospace and defence |
| naics | 3364, 5415 |
| preferredSubmarket | The Loop |
| preferredFitoutSpec | High-end |
| fitoutBand | $200–290/sqft |
| sqftPerSeat | 210 |
| classARentLocal | 52 USD/sqft/yr |
| classARentUsd | $52/sqft/yr |
| vacancyPct | 24.5% |
| typicalLeaseYears | 10 |
| typicalRentFreeMonths | 22 |
| talentIndex | 88 |
| corporateTaxPct | 28.5% |
Reviewed by Miriam Hollander — Lead market analyst. Last updated 2026-04-15. See our methodology and editorial standards.