My friend's husband, who works for QL, has been working from home for over 2 years due to lack of space. This problem isn't new for QL, but it does sound as if it has gotten worse.

Is the entire Book Building supposed to be residential, or just the tower section? That could be a solution, but that is still many months away.
If he did purchase the Free Press Building, he would have that space after it has been rehabbed. Is it in good enough shape to move people in during the reno? Or not? [[I'm guessing not by the exterior alone.)
Or, regarding the Buhl, isn't it still for sale? The pending sale fell through if I'm not mistaken. That is a functioning building he could just buy and renovate slowly to bring it up to his standards....