Item 2. PROPERTIES

W. R. Berkley and its subsidiaries own or lease office buildings or office space suitable to conduct their operations. At December 31, 2021, the Company had aggregate office space of 4,276,456 square feet, of which 1,105,205 were owned and 3,171,251 were leased.

Rental expense for the Company's operations was approximately $44,051,000, $44,291,000 and $44,107,000 for 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Future minimum lease payments, without provision for sublease income, are $44,962,000 in 2022, $43,674,000 in 2023 and $155,277,000 thereafter.