Flex Space

Flex space — short for flexible space — refers to commercial properties that can accommodate a blend of office, light manufacturing, storage, and service uses under one roof. In the Chicago suburban market, flex buildings are common in industrial parks and mixed-use corridors in areas such as Elk Grove Village, Carol Stream, and Bolingbrook. For certain healthcare-adjacent businesses — including medical equipment suppliers, prosthetics and orthotics providers, physical therapy with gym components, or behavioral health programs requiring large open areas — flex space offers a cost-effective and versatile alternative to traditional medical office buildings. Flex rents are typically lower than Class A MOBs, but tenants must verify zoning for medical or healthcare uses and ensure adequate ADA accessibility.

For healthcare-adjacent businesses with operational requirements beyond standard office space, flex properties offer cost savings and versatility — but require careful due diligence on zoning, ADA compliance, and patient accessibility.

A prosthetics and orthotics practice leases 3,000 sq ft of flex space in Carol Stream, using 1,500 sq ft as patient consultation and fitting rooms and 1,500 sq ft as a fabrication and storage area — at a significantly lower rent than comparable medical office space.