Technology giants including Google and Meta helped drive a wave of office development in specific Los Angeles pockets before the pandemic, as landlords rushed to build and repurpose space to keep up with rapid tech hiring.
Now, after a decade and a real estate cycle that saw these tech firms give back large blocks of space, the neighborhoods that felt the boom are dealing with the bust.
Culver City, Marina del Rey and Venice are facing the highest office vacancy rates in Los Angeles County — although recent leasing momentum is hinting at a rebound, albeit for different kinds of tenants.
Projects such as the 464,000‑square‑foot Brickyard campus in Marina del Rey and the conversion of the Westside Pavilion mall into offices for Google were emblematic of that tech expansion. Google, after embracing hybrid work and consolidating its office holdings, has since walked away from its long‑term Westside Pavilion lease, setting the stage for UCLA to acquire the property for biomedical research.
Meta, meanwhile, is marketing more than 182,000 square feet for sublease in Playa Vista as it pulls back from its metaverse ambitions and refocuses on artificial intelligence.
Pullbacks by Amazon, Rivian and other high-profile technology users have compounded a broader slowdown among entertainment tenants, leaving parts of Los Angeles with elevated vacancy after years of aggressive building. While Hollywood's filming activity is starting to stabilize, that slow rebound has yet to translate into meaningful office transactions.
Areas that added large amounts of space for tech tenants — including Playa Vista, Marina del Rey, Venice and Culver City — are still working through that excess supply.
While vacancy remains high, Marina del Rey and Venice are also leading the region in net absorption as several large leases signed in late 2024 and early 2025 finally take occupancy.
Culver City, which saw a surge of construction completions between 2021 and 2024 aimed at tech and entertainment users, is also feeling the effects of softer demand. Still, its central location, amenities and strong tenant roster position it for a rebound once tech hiring returns.
Downtown Los Angeles remains the weakest link, weighed down by homelessness, crime concerns, aging inventory and persistent oversupply.
By contrast, the region’s strongest performers share common traits: limited new supply, a suburban feel and less reliance on tech and entertainment.
On the other end, Beverly Hills, Pasadena, El Segundo and Glendale continue to attract tenants seeking safety, value and stability.