Campus Housing for Tomorrow

How is campus housing evolving?  

Ayers Saint Gross principals Dennis Lynch and Cooper Melton and Sustainability Director Allison Wilson were all recently featured in a special report from The Chronicle of Higher Education titled, “Campus Housing for Tomorrow: How to Plan for Student and Institutional Success.” 

This in-depth report looks at recent shifts in the student housing landscape, including inflation and high building costs, enrollment changes, evolving student needs and demands, and more. Available for purchase in the Chronicle’s online store, the 58-page report is filled with valuable information campus leaders can use to make effective and informed housing decisions.  

Here are some of the current challenges our experts spoke on:  

Housing Demand and Supply Challenges 

Many flagship institutions have seen an increase in out-of-state enrollments, leading to a housing crunch. The post-pandemic surge in construction costs, driven by supply chain issues, has exacerbated these challenges. Principal Dennis Lynch weighed in on how targeted renovations of existing residence halls can achieve greater equity between living experiences while keeping room and board affordable for students.  

Diverse Housing Needs 

Traditional residence hall design needs to be updated for the current generation of students, who have unique preferences related to personal privacy and well-being. Principal Cooper Melton provided examples of how facilities can be designed as efficiently as possible while still being able to support student needs, including designing bedrooms that are longer and narrower or increasing the number of suite-style configurations.  

Some colleges and universities are working to diversify their housing portfolios to better support upperclassmen, graduate students, and even faculty and staff members. Cooper spoke of the benefits of graduate student housing for recruitment, pointing out that many graduate students benefit from “knowing there is safe, reliable, and affordable stock of housing available to them.”  

Creating Community  

As the academic and social lives of students have become more technology-driven, college leaders are finding new ways to support community ties. Cooper and Dennis shared ideas for how buildings can be designed with welcoming common spaces students will want to use for a variety of purposes. Incorporating study nooks within larger spaces, for example, can allow students to work independently while still feeling like part of the community.  

Integrated Sustainability  

Sustainable design is now the norm for college campuses and many students put a premium on institutions that model sustainable behavior. Sustainability Director Allison Wilson said her work now looks at how institutions can foster environmentally responsible behaviors by integrating environmental education into the residential experience. One example would be incorporating signage about the benefits of turning off lights or using low-flow water fixtures. 

To purchase the entire report or learn more, visit https://store.chronicle.com/products/campus-housing-for-tomorrow.