Shaping the Future of Campus Environments

Key Takeaways from ERAPPA and Bisnow Student Housing Summit

In October, Bohler’s PA and NJ teams were immersed in the latest trends in higher education and student housing, connecting with industry leaders across the eastern region to learn about the evolving needs of campus environments.

As an Ambassador Sponsor, Bohler proudly supported the 2024 ERAPPA Annual Conference in Valley Forge, held from September 29 to October 2. The teams also attended the Bisnow Philadelphia Student Housing & Higher Ed Development Summit on October 16, gaining insights into the innovations shaping future campus developments.

Here are our key takeaways and top trends from these events.

Trends in Design

Amenity spaces—both indoor and outdoor—are vital for attracting students. For example, Bohler’s planning, landscape architecture, and design team helped refresh the exterior plaza at Accolade on Chestnut at UPenn, adding greenery, lighting, and furnishings to create an inviting pedestrian connection from the streetscape to interior amenities. Meanwhile, The Standard at Four Corners, at UConn, designed by Bohler’s New England team, goes beyond academic amenities by including resort-style features like a gaming lounge, heated pool, hot tub, and fire pits, creating a vibrant community atmosphere and a well-rounded living experience for students.

Accolade on Chestnut

Microunits are an increasingly popular solution in student housing, offering compact, affordable, and convenient living spaces near college campuses. Typically between 200 to 400 square feet, these units maximize every inch with smart storage solutions and multi-functional furniture like Murphy beds and fold-down tables. Located on or near universities, microunits appeal to budget-conscious students by offering lower rent and a minimalist lifestyle, all within a short distance to classes and campus amenities.

Universities are making sustainability a top priority in student housing, aiming for net-zero emissions and environmentally friendly designs. Driven by student demand and climate action goals, many campuses now incorporate energy-efficient appliances, solar panels, green roofs, and waste reduction programs like recycling and composting. New builds and renovations alike are integrating these green initiatives to align with student values and reduce their overall carbon footprint.

The site of a solar panel array at Lehigh University that will power its Goodman Campus.

Higher education institutions are increasingly establishing university-based retirement communities (URCs) to address the needs of an aging population, align with their educational missions, and counter declining enrollments. URCs foster vibrant environments for older adults by combining housing, educational opportunities, socialization, and medical research access, enriching the broader campus community.

URCs provide seniors with intellectual engagement and connection to campus life, while universities gain new audiences, potential revenue, and enhanced community integration. These communities are often operated in partnership with senior living organizations. Colleges lease campus land or buildings, benefitting from new income streams and increased event engagement.

Goucher College and Edenwald Senior Living exemplify this trend with Maryland’s first URC, integrating academic, cultural, and social activities. This pioneering approach showcases how URCs offer unique campus experiences to residents, including study abroad options, access to classes, and use of campus amenities.

Process Takeaways

For universities, staying on schedule is paramount. Delays can derail timelines and inflate budgets, so a proactive approach to each project phase—from due diligence and site planning to entitlements and construction—is essential. Strategies for maintaining momentum include following a comprehensive due diligence checklist to prevent budget surprises, applying time-saving lessons from retail site planning programs, using best practices to navigate permitting and entitlements efficiently, and designing with constructability in mind to keep construction on track. These methods help universities meet deadlines without compromising on quality.

Navigating the approval process, particularly in urban areas like Philadelphia can be complex, requiring developers to strategically streamline permitting and coordinate with multiple agencies. Engaging the design team early helps establish efficient due diligence, budget allocation, and milestone planning. To expedite approvals, Bohler’s team has used conceptual plans to secure initial permits, enabling construction to begin while allowing design details to be refined later. Prioritizing essential permits, like those for stormwater management and utilities, allows critical phases to proceed without delays, while more flexible aspects, such as offsite Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) required ramps and PA Department of Transportation (PADOT) coordination, are addressed afterward. This approach allows developers to meet tight deadlines and manage Philadelphia’s intricate approval landscape effectively.

Public-private partnerships (P3s) are valuable for universities looking to manage costs and timelines in student housing projects. These collaborations allow institutions to transfer or share risks, often resulting in faster project completion and on-schedule delivery. By outsourcing non-core assets, universities can focus on academic priorities, while private partners bring experience in accommodating student and faculty needs. P3s also offer advantages in planning and budgeting for long-term maintenance, design integration, and flexibility to adapt to changing market conditions, making them a strategic choice for sustainable campus development.

Where’s the biggest opportunity for student housing development?

The biggest opportunity lies in partnerships with higher education institutions, which can act as anchors within their communities. Universities can utilize underused land by converting old buildings or creating affordable student housing options. Increasingly, these institutions are either building student housing themselves or collaborating with developers in arrangements similar to public-private partnerships (P3s). For universities, offering affordable student housing helps ease financial pressures and provides students who might otherwise be priced out with a traditional college living experience. Developers benefit from these collaborations by gaining long-term returns and access to prime campus locations that might otherwise be unavailable.

Ready to move forward with a student housing project? Connect with our team.