Chicago industrial construction remains targeted and corridor-driven

Industrial construction across the Chicago market has accelerated over the past year, though activity remains moderate relative to national benchmarks and highly concentrated within a limited number of submarkets. As of early 2026, about 19 million square feet of industrial space is under construction, representing 1.4% of total inventory. While development has more than doubled from the 9.2 million square feet underway in the first quarter of 2025, Chicago’s pipeline remains below the national average of 1.8%.