5 student housing trends (prospective)
college students look for
As college and university attendance evolves, the same is true for student housing. Prospective students aren't just searching for a great education out of their college experience; they are also on a quest for student housing that fits their needs for both community and productivity. This can make tough decisions even harder, but with the right revamps to your student housing, you can ensure that yours is the school they choose.
Sadly, many college campuses leave their dorms in the dark ages, even as the rest of the school zooms past the Enlightenment. Students want to feel connected to their campus and others living there, all while having a space that's uniquely their own. To accomplish this goal and keep up with the trends for desirable student housing, there are a few key areas that you should consider sprucing up. Such areas include where students lay their heads, and where they'll be hanging out as they declare, and sometimes change majors.
Here's a look at some of the most in-demand student housing trends for creating an idescribably compelling dorm for any student prospect.
1
Community Areas with Space and Flexibility
Today's college students want living spaces that make them feel like they are part of a wider community, all the while giving them their own personal space to be happy, healthy, and productive. Many dorms already have separate wings based on gender, but consider segmenting students out in more unifying ways such as by major or perhaps even by common interests. Doing so helps to further mitigate the spread of germs by reducing the risk of exposure, while also creating "community pods" that give students a sense of belonging and family. To make these spaces as inviting as possible, deck them out with furniture that is not only comfortable but flexible. Opt for furniture designs that can be easily moved or otherwise reconfigured to fit student needs whether socializing or studying.
Speaking of being studious, there also needs to be multiple study spaces for students to get away from it all and crack open a book. This way, they have the environment they need for studying without having to leave their dorms, which can be incredibly convenient during late-night cramming sessions. These study spaces can be full-sized project collaboration or meeting rooms where groups of students can prepare for their latest exams, or smaller, more intimate nooks and crannies where a student can study away in seclusion. Another huge necessity is an overabundance of electrical outlets, allowing students to hook up any and all electronics that they need for education and entertainment purposes.
One more meaningful way to help foster a sense of community and inclusion is with message boards and community event signs. Using message boards to post event notices keeps everyone connected and encourages participation in dorm-wide get togethers, like Super Bowl parties, movie nights, or anything else going on under the roof.
Speaking of being under the roof indoors, another big boon for community areas and dorms in general is large windows where natural light can filter in with radiance. Studies have shown that natural light can work as an effective pain killer, temporarily slowing pain response as well as boosting serotonin levels. It can also be a big time booster for productivity, helping students hunker down and finish grueling papers or study for their most intensive class.
2
Security, Health, & Well-being In Student Living Spaces
Whether it's the comforts of home or something new entirely, students want a relaxing living space all to themselves. This means dorms that are more like apartments, with each student having their own separate bedroom. For students who are away from home for the first time, apartment-like dorms can help to foster a sense of independence, not to mention allow students in the same "quarters" a little privacy and security.
Safety is always first, and parents want their now adult children to live in residency halls that are affordable, safe, and secure. That's why you should have emergency exit maps in every dorm room and fire safety signage on each floor. This way, students can quickly figure out where to go and what to do during an emergency by reading these signs. Your dorm halls are probably more than one story, so you'll also need exit stairs signage and an "In Case of Fire" sign for the elevators.
A natural outdoor environment can also do wonders for a students' health and well-being. In areas where people come to enjoy the great outdoors, it's important to give students a place to stretch their legs and hang out in the open air. A vast courtyard will invite students to play volleyball, frisbee, or any other fun warm weather activity. Accentuate these courtyards with a community garden of flowers and even produce that students and staff can maintain throughout the year. Gardens allow students to feel healthy, mindful, and environmental in their new home. Of course, even when the weather's not quite warm, students will still want to congregate outside together, especially if they're prone to low temperature blues. Outdoor seating around a fire pit is one way to warm students' hearts, as well as bring them together in a safe, fun, and open environment.
At the same time, there will be moments when students need ways to de-stress from the rigors of academia. Quiet spaces can be great for studying, but students should also have somewhere where they can cast aside the worries of academic life and lay down their burdens. Reflection rooms are inclusive environments for students of all faiths, beliefs, and walks of life to come and pray, meditate, and contemplate at their leisure. To let students unleash some pent up energy and detox in the physical sense, consider offering a small workout area with basic fitness equipment and even a yoga studio. The convenience of a readily-available fitness area will help encourage students to take care of their mental and physical well-being.
3
Comfort, Convenience, & Style
The convenience of a worthwhile internet connection throughout your school is an absolute MUST for students living on campus, allowing them to easily research projects, papers, and anything else of academic interest. Plus, with so many people using it at once, you're going to need a connection with considerable bandwidth. Shop around your local internet service providers to get the best deals on the internet that your students will need for weekday cram sessions and weekend binge sessions.
No matter how hard some students try to slay the books, dorms will inevitably be host to someone's obnoxious rock concert or home theater experience. This is a common yet overlooked issue regarding campus housing, and the apparent solution can actually cause more problems. Installing multi-layer drywall can be a hit or miss answer to thin walls, not to mention a time and money waster. Instead, contact an acoustical consultant and look into sound membranes for your walls, quickly putting a damper on the decibels and giving students both peace and quiet and peace of mind.
The most obvious way to reinvigorate your campus and bring it back to welcoming life is with a splash of color and art. Adding vibrant hues lets prospects know that your school is keeping up with the times and staying competitive in more than just an academic sense. Also consider dotting the walls with breathtaking art, and it helps to set the scene if it's local. Abstract art from regional artists, or better yet, students at the university, is one aesthetic way to liven up the joint. This again brings a touch of modernity to the campus, maintains a level of sophistication, and also promotes local artists in a way that exposes students of all majors to their work.
Last but not least, students are going to need to know their way around the dorm complex, especially if they've just moved in. Door signage makes getting from one part of the dorm to another a lot easier by pointing out where common areas of interest like laundry rooms, communal bathrooms, and study rooms are. The same is true for directional signs and building number signs, as they let students differentiate between one dorm to the next, as well as how to get there. Of course, if their final destination is their own dorm rooms, students can figure out which one is which with dorm room numbers. These signs may seem like basic and even ignored parts of a building, but they're both required by law and pivotal in familiarizing incoming students with their new living quarters.
4
Sustainability Around Campus
Now more than ever, environmental and energy sustainability is a big topic that extends to all kinds of industries, including higher education. Shine a new light on all of the residing students' subjects with modern LED bulbs, which last longer than typical fluorescent lighting and help save on both energy and money. Install these in both dorm buildings and around the campus to help keep things lit while keeping your energy footprint to a minimum.
Low-flow toilets and showerheads in dorm bathrooms are other valuable tools to put in your campus's arsenal in the war against waste. Reports have shown that transitioning to these appliances can reduce annual water consumption by over 2,000 gallons. High-efficiency, or HE washing machines have the same premise, rinsing clothes clean while using 20-50+% less water than traditional washers. This stems from their lacking the agitator system of traditional washing machines, which, when combined with sensors that detect the size of a load of clothes, keeps the machines from wasting water.
Recycling should be a part of your campus' lifestyle, and in some states, it's actually required by law. Invest in modern recycling bins in dorms and community kitchens that present a striking visual against your walls, inspiring students to recycle more of what they would otherwise throw away. Electronic recycling bins provide environmentally conscious means of disposing techie items, such as old cell phones and print cartridges. Whether it's an out-of-date iPhone or the cartridge corpses left behind by the school's many printers, you'll have an easier way to reduce your campus' carbon footprint.
Likewise, a compost initiative for a campus organic garden can serve a similar two-fold purpose. For one, it can encourage sustainable, organic farming for students to take part in, whether it's part of their major or not. The produce grown from organic gardens can be harvested by and kept by the students who partake in it, allowing them to provide for themselves while away from home. Who wouldn't want to be able to grow their own food at school, turning their campus into a sort of supermarket? On top of that, using a designated spot for food waste to be taken and turned into compost recycles it in a safe and sustainable way. These recycling initiatives take care of common electronic and food waste around schools, keeping your college campus green and ecological.
5
Top-notch Amenities & Conveniences
If you want to keep on-the-fence prospects on the hook, offer enticing amenities to make their choices in potential schools a lot slimmer. For indoors-oriented fun, consider decking out the communal recreation room. This area should be loaded with the coolest gadgets and attractions around, from darts, pool, and foosball tables to TVs, gaming consoles, arcade cabinets, and cornhole boards. Add some comfortable couches, recliners, and even hammocks to provide a relaxing mood and atmosphere so that students know that this is THE place to kick back and chill out.
If your student housing offers community-style kitchens, gussy these up with the tools they need. This involved upgrading fridge, oven/stove, microwave, and dining areas, making them large enough and hospitable enough for students to gather around and grab some grub together. Simple changes like updating the kitchen range and countertops can convince students that their communal kitchen is their best restaurant in the city.
Many campuses are starting to offer outdoor pools beyond the standard sports-oriented gym pools, and these should be as inviting as possible. Ensure that the changing rooms for these outside pools are clean and chic, as anything that looks like a roach motel will only keep people out of the water. Pools should also be surrounded by enticing lounge furniture, as well as other areas to sit and soak up the environment. Pillows and upholstery for umbrellas and seats must be clean, modern, and tightly woven, as nothing ruins summer more than cheap, tattered material.
Chain restaurants in campus eatery sections have become a staple, allowing students to enjoy munchin' on luncheon at their favorite spots. Bring this convenience to the dorm level by having these eateries directly in and around student housing. Other amenities that you might want to include are coffee klatches and small markets where students can purchase basic necessities. Having the conveniences right where students live allows them to quickly and effortlessly get snacks, toiletries, or anything else that they need without trekking off campus.
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