This seven-week class is the first in a series of “City Lab” classes that will offer an in-depth analysis of a current issue confronting cities. This first lab class will consider the potential for adaptive re-use of office buildings to address various challenges facing cities across the U.S. -- underutilized office space as many employers offer flexibility to work from home, energy inefficient building stocks, and an inadequate supply of affordable housing. The course will introduce students to the opportunities presented by converting offices into residential space, including reducing emissions, creating more homes, and fostering vibrant, mixed-use communities. It will also consider the many challenges such conversions face, from regulatory barriers to structural barriers, lease frictions and high costs, especially for conversions that create affordable homes. Learning from readings, case-studies, and presentations from leading practitioners and policymakers, students will identify the key obstacles to conversions and develop workable strategies to address them.