Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) has released a new white paper that introduces a comprehensive evaluation system for office buildings, signaling a strong recovery for Shanghai's ultra-premium Grade-A office segment. The report, titled "Shanghai's Premium Grade-A Offices Leading Market Recovery Under the New Evaluation Framework," was published on August 18 and outlines a "3+5" building assessment model.

According to Jones Lang LaSalle's China Research Director, Yao Yao, premium Grade-A offices in Shanghai have consistently demonstrated a solid advantage over standard Grade-A offices in both rental premiums and vacancy rates. "Entering 2026, premium Grade-A offices are showing robust signs of stabilization and recovery, positioning them as the core engine driving the Shanghai market's rebound," Yao noted.

Under the new evaluation system, projects that achieve full marks across all "3+5" dimensions are reclassified as "premium Grade-A offices." As of the end of the second quarter, JLL data shows that the average rent for these premium properties reached RMB 8.5 per square meter per day, with nearly 70% of projects experiencing stable or rising rents in the first half of the year.

Looking at projects completed since 2022, the average leasing velocity of premium Grade-A offices has significantly outpaced standard Grade-A buildings, achieving a rate 2.7 to 2.9 times faster across various phases. Jones Lang LaSalle projects that over the next five years, rents for premium Grade-A offices will grow at a compound annual rate of approximately 6%, cementing their role as the primary driver of Shanghai's office market recovery.