Contrary to what seems to be popular belief, you don’t need to go to college to find a rewarding career. I am not quite sure where that idea started in our society, but I know it’s still around. I think back to my high school days and how, when senior year rolled around, I had that meeting everyone scheduled with the high school counselor. I remember the counselor asking me directly what I wanted to study in college as if that was my only option. The same thing happened with my …
It’s the start of the semester at university campuses across the globe. New experiences around curricula, living quarters and social connections have begun. And as student life restarts, a new level of connectivity is needed to make these experiences positive ones. Student education and social engagement happen in every corner of the campus (libraries, lecture halls, dorms, cafeterias and more) and extend to off campus locations. Is your university ready to fill that connectivity demand? Today’s students know the benefit, convenience, and flexibility that Wi-Fi brings, and their fingers …
Student housing valuation is often saddled by two common units of comparison that multiply the opportunities for confusion and disagreement in appraising value for property taxation. For a more convincing property tax appeal, it is important for the taxpayer to ensure their property’s valuations line up on both a per-square-foot and a per-bed basis. This article will discuss the importance of a proper unit mix and rent roll analysis to reconcile values between these units of comparison. We will also discuss current trends in student housing, including free services and …
The demand for advanced Internet of Things (IoT) technology has intensified over the past two years in the multifamily and student housing sectors. Many communities offer some form of smart home technology to enhance the resident experience. Owners and operators are seeing the value of these technologies within their communities for residents while making work easier and more efficient for their on-site teams. In fact, recent survey results from NMHC and Grace Hill showed 60 percent of residents prefer smart locks and 70 percent prefer smart thermostats in their communities. …
It is wild to think that 24 months ago I was sitting in the same room that I am sitting in now thinking whether my lifelong dream of building a company was ending abruptly. In March 2020, my colleagues at Student Quarters and I were celebrating the imminent closing of a deal at the University of Cincinnati. Our pipeline had never been stronger or deeper. We were poised to make our move to become an industry powerhouse. And then over the days, weeks and months that followed, we spent hours …
Life sciences is a booming industry and commercial real estate experts only expect for this market to continue flourishing in 2022. According to CBRE’s U.S. Life Sciences Trends 2021 report, we have reached all-time highs in funding, job growth and demand for lab space and new construction. As the demand for life sciences space continues increasing in cities, so will the demand for housing that accommodates graduate students and professionals working in this industry. Up to this point, most commercial real estate developers have not considered how this increase in …
Water leak monitoring should be an integral part of your sustainability and conservation efforts. Sustainability and conservation started as trends, but have turned into a combined green movement that has taken root in student housing property development and construction — and we can all applaud that effort! Educational institutions, government agencies, developers and students alike have taken to heart the need to protect our environment and communities while fulfilling student housing demand. And the opportunities to ‘go green’ are ever-expanding. Recent advances in water conservation technology are now not only …
It all started in a college dorm with restless nights of tossing and turning, resulting in missed classes. For college students, sleep is an essential activity that tends to be sacrificed for in favor of late nights studying or spending time with friends. While this seems normal on college campuses, not getting a full night’s rest affects your brain, and you emotional and physical state. Having just one poor night’s sleep can disrupt cognitive functioning and reduce your immune system’s response, meaning you’ll experience a lack of concentration and are more …
The importance of internet connectivity in our lives today goes without question and is considered by many a ‘technical utility,’ or an offering as common as water and electricity to most residents. It’s difficult for many to imagine not having access to internet in our daily routine. As Jenn Cassidy, senior vice president of student housing operations at the Cardinal Group, has stated: “You could probably get away with no power or no water, but not without internet.” What is the Resident Experiencing While Connected? Owners and operators need to …
Now more than ever, colleges and universities are in a powerful position when it comes to sustainability. As long-term owners and operators of their building stock, they steward the entire life of the building from design to utilization — likely over multiple generations. As centers of information development, they can model their built environment to reflect the latest theory and practice in combating global climate change. As educators of the next generation, they can engage and inspire the best young thinkers of the future to creatively solve environmental problems. Therefore, …
