Published on February 16, 2024
Written by Kevin Williams for The New York Times
Off-campus complexes are getting larger, with some being home to more than 1,500 students, and being built on prime parcels of land as close to campus as possible.
When the Standard, an off-campus student housing complex, opened in the fall in Bloomington, Ind., welcoming its first batch of residents, it had a decidedly resort vibe. Along with the requisite pool and fitness centers, it enticed students with two pickleball courts, a dog park and a motion sports simulator. The complex even used a roommate-matching app.
The arms race over amenities in student housing is nothing new, but what is striking about the Standard is its size: 1,000 beds, about twice the size of a typical dorm. In fact, the Standard could house 3 percent of Indiana University’s 34,000-plus undergraduates.
Off-campus student housing complexes across the country are getting larger, some home to more than 1,500 students, and they are being built on prime parcels as close to campus as possible, as developers seek to better manage their bottom line.
Landmark’s largest student housing development is the Standard in Seattle, which opened on Sept. 22 adjacent to the University of Washington. It features two high-rise towers and a mid-rise building, which together will house 1,545 students. The university, which has more than 34,000 undergraduates, does not require first-year students to live on campus as many universities do, so the pool of available residents is larger than elsewhere.
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Written by Kevin Williams for The New York TimesHow are cities impacted by large student-housing complexes taking the place of the neighborhood home rentals of the past? How are university neighborhoods impacted? Are non-students displaced? Does the close proximity to classes mean a lesser transportation burden? How is public transport impacted?