Student housing developers all over are scaling back on excessive amenities like lazy rivers and gourmet chefs. Many recent student housing projects have stuck to the basics: fast internet speeds and proximity to campus. But it is still fun to imagine what college would have been like at one of these dorm halls or apartments.
Apartment 5 at Saint Leo University
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Saint Leo, Florida, is about 30 miles from the beach, but students in Apartment 5 at Saint Leo University can make do with the 2,100-gallon saltwater aquarium in the common room of the on-campus community. Televisions for gaming, pool tables, an arcade and a relaxation room with napping pods give students a little balance in their study routines.
Usen Castle at Brandeis University
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The most notable amenity in this dormitory is not technology or swimming pools, but architecture. The Norman-style Usen Castle at Brandeis University in Massachusetts was built in 1928 and is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. Last year, the castle was set to be demolished to make way for a new dormitory. Development on the $38M new dormitory was delayed to look into saving more of the building, and under new plans, Brandeis will preserve towers A and B on the site when it delivers in summer 2018.
The Standard at Athens
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This University of Georgia apartment complex developed by Landmark Properties has a 24-hour recreation center with a golf simulator, pool, foosball and poker tables. Students can reward themselves after a tough exam at an infinity pool, sauna, racquetball court and on-demand fitness classes. Developer Landmark grew its portfolio 40% during the Great Recession.
Terrapin Row
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Terrapin Row, the 445-unit, mixed-use student housing development at the University of Maryland, is a joint venture between Toll Brothers Campus Living and Ares Management. In addition to the basics of WiFi and high-definition televisions, Terrapin Row has resort-style pools and courtyards with outdoor kitchens and televisions. The volleyball courts, golf simulators, game rooms and gym keep students stimulated outside of class.
University Center
Chicago’s largest hub of student housing was purchased by a local investor in May and reportedly fetched more than $200M. Students can study fireside in the indoor lobby or outside in gardens and gazebos. The on-site gym with fitness programming will help balance out all the home-style cooking at the center dining area. Plenty of technology capabilities for video games and theater-style movie watching — or studying — are available in common rooms.
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