Student housing leaders say their latest developments are in response to how young adults approach living and learning.
“There’s a rising demand for spaces that do more than check boxes,” says Mitchell Korte, executive vice president of development at Subtext. “They need to deliver on wellness, flexibility, and experience. … There’s more emphasis on hospitality-level amenities, local integration, and curated social programming that reflects the needs of Gen Z and Gen Alpha.”
James E. Wilhelm III, chief development officer at American Campus Communities (ACC), agrees, saying it’s no longer about beds alone.
“Housing is increasingly seen as a tool for supporting mental health, academic engagement, and community building,” he says. “Across the board, we’re designing connections, whether that’s through biophilic courtyards, shared kitchens, or co-located services.”
ACC has taken it a step further at Henle Village, a redevelopment on Georgetown University’s main campus in Washington, D.C. The new community houses Georgetown’s Counseling & Psychiatric Services, reinforcing the connection between residential life and mental health.
“Today’s students prioritize mental and physical well-being as much as location or aesthetics, so we’re seeing a strong uptake of amenities like saunas, meditation rooms, smart-mirror fitness studios, and integrated yoga/barre spaces,” adds Korte.
Meeting today’s student needs isn’t just occurring in new developments. Campus Apartments constantly evaluates its portfolio for value-add opportunities for meeting resident expectations. Two of its recent renovations—Campus Crossings Abbey West serving the University of Georgia in Athens and Campus Crossings Briarcliff serving Emory University in Atlanta, both 15 to 20 years old—reflect this approach. The student housing leader did substantial renovations on the clubhouses to modernize the assets, allowing it to deliver a positive resident experience without the premium rents typically associated with new construction.
“Across the industry and in all markets, we’re continuing to see a shift toward purposefully designed, well-managed communities that prioritize daily use and resident well-being,” says Miles Orth, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Campus Apartments. “Students place higher value on functional, comfortable spaces that support both academic and personal growth. Our recent renovations are a direct response to that shift by focusing on core amenities that foster connection, focus, and wellness.”
What are musts in today’s spaces reflect students’ interactions with one another.
“Today’s students want practical, high-utility spaces, including wellness-focused fitness centers, collaborative study lounges, and flexible common areas that adapt to individual and group use. These amenities are essential to driving resident satisfaction and retention, which in turn leads to strong word of mouth and an elevated leasing performance,” says Orth. “Robust Wi-Fi also is an essential amenity that overcomes nearly all other needs for today’s students.”
Jonathan Reyes, LV Collective president of student housing, adds that students want places where they feel connected, supported, and inspired.
“Students today aren’t looking for the flashiest or trendiest amenities—they want spaces that feel relevant to their daily lives. They want their living spaces to reflect thoughtful choices that support both connection and well-being,” he notes.
Ned Williams, executive vice president of development at The Michaels Organization, concurs. “Student housing amenities are increasingly geared to enhance a student’s daily activity with features like tech-enabled collaborative study lounges, wellness-focused environments, and inviting outdoor spaces,” he says.
Rob Dinwiddie, executive vice president of marketing and management services at Landmark Properties, adds creating flexible space is critical, saying “Today’s residents increasingly favor social spaces that serve dual purposes—places where they can gather with friends or study in comfort.”
Another area that is resonating with students is ground-floor activation, says Korte, noting the developer has recently included its first full-service lobby coffee shop at VERVE Ann Arbor.
“VERVE’s full-service coffee shop in partnership with a local operator is a prime example of an amenity space that delivers both resident experience and neighborhood engagement,” Korte notes.
Other popular amenities, says Wilhelm, include communal kitchens, green outdoor areas, and creative amenities like podcast rooms and maker labs.
While amenity packages at new student housing communities continue to be robust, student housing leaders agree that once-trendy and showy amenities are beginning to fall out of favor.
“Flashy luxury amenities such as oversized game rooms and lazy rivers are becoming a thing of the past,” says Williams.
Wilhelm points to overbuilt entertainment lounges and high-end finishes with no real purpose, saying “students want homes with meaning, not flash.”
Orth adds tanning beds and movie theaters to the list of amenities falling out of favor.
Korte also says oversized, underutilized amenity zones such as game lounges and redundant clubrooms that don’t serve a clear purpose are going by the wayside.
“Students today want every square foot to contribute to their daily routine, whether that’s through focused study areas, functional social spaces, or services that support their lifestyle. It’s a shift from volume to intentionality, and it’s redefining how we program and operate student housing communities.”
Take a look at 11 new developments that are coming online for the 2025-2026 academic school year from Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida, to Arizona State University (ASU) in Tempe.
New ACC Partnerships Deliver Over 2,500 Beds Across Purdue, ASU, and Georgetown
ACC has a public-private partnership model with universities. It has three new communities opening through that model for this academic school year: the 984-bed 3rd & West at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, with partner Purdue Research Foundation; the 828-bed Herberger Student Housing at ASU; and the 740-bed Henle Village at Georgetown University.
“Each community reflects ACC’s purpose-driven approach to student housing, supporting well-being, academic success, and long-term sustainability,” says Wilhelm. “At Purdue’s 3rd & West, we prioritized early move-in and outdoor academic zones. At ASU’s Herberger housing, the design embraces creativity through makerspaces and performance areas. At Georgetown’s Henle Village, students benefit from apartment-style living paired with on-site mental health services. These developments aren’t standalone; they’re built to extend and reflect each campus’ mission.”
The five-story 3rd & West was designed by SCB with a mix of studio to four-bedroom floor plans. Key amenities include two landscaped courtyards, a 24-hour fitness center, indoor and outdoor kitchens, social lounges, and collaborative study areas—all anchored by an entry plaza designed to foster community identity.
The Herberger Student Housing community was developed in collaboration with ASU and design firm SCB. Built by Okland Construction, the seven-story building is tailored for students in the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts with vibrant materials, studio-classroom hybrids, and performance spaces. The 224 units are configured primarily as shared semi-suites.
Henle Village replaces three legacy buildings on the Georgetown campus with two connected, eight-story structures with apartment-style living. Its design balances historic preservation with sustainability—featuring all-electric systems, low-carbon construction, rain gardens, bioswales, and rooftop solar arrays. It also features wellness areas, green roofs, private and group study rooms, and environmentally conscious design throughout.
Landmark Properties Opens New Two-Building Community in Ann Arbor
Landmark Properties has brought a two-building residential community to downtown Ann Arbor, Michigan. The Legacy at Ann Arbor, developed in a joint venture with Cerca Trova and designed by ESG Architecture & Design, comprises two interconnected buildings—a 19-story high-rise and a mid-rise structure attached to the historic Michigan Theater.
The 521-bed Legacy at Ann Arbor, adjacent to the University of Michigan, offers residents a mix of studio to five-bedroom floor plans across 253 units. Apartments are fully furnished, wired for high-speed internet and cable, and feature stainless steel appliances, quartz countertops, hardwood-style floors, and in-unit washers and dryers.
The development features 9,700 square feet of amenities, including a rooftop pool deck and resident clubroom with outdoor grilling, a gaming lawn, and a fire pit seating area; an academic lounge; a fitness center; and bike storage. It also includes 4,150 square feet of ground-floor retail space and gated resident parking.
“This project reflects the growing demand for high-density, amenity-rich student housing in walkable urban cores, where students prioritize proximity to campus and lifestyle-enhancing features,” says Dinwiddie, noting that the community was fully leased ahead of the school year.
LV Collective Brings New Student Housing to Atlanta and Columbus
LV Collective’s latest student housing communities include the 215-unit, 798-bed Rambler Atlanta and the 379-unit, 889-bed Rambler Columbus—both meeting the demand in the popular college markets.
Georgia Tech has experienced record growth since 2023, and that is expected to continue with the planned addition of 400,000 square feet of research and collaboration space by 2026.
According to Reyes, Rambler Atlanta was developed in anticipation of this growing demand, offering a prime location near Tech Square and curated amenities and floor plans ranging from studios to six bedrooms.
“Guided by student input, the design delivers experience-based living with features they value most, including plentiful, purpose-built study areas that meet Georgia Tech students’ high expectations for academic space,” he says.
Rambler Atlanta also is a good example of a broader shift being seen in student housing—a stronger connection between the property and the surrounding community.
“The public realm was intentionally designed to be pedestrian-focused and hospitality-forward, with layers of plans, warm textures, and high-quality materials that invite people to engage with the space,” Reyes adds. “Instead of creating a wall between the building and the neighborhood, the design allows for a natural flow from interior to exterior, seamlessly integrating with its surroundings and encouraging interaction between residents and the community.”
It also offers abundant study areas, from nine private study rooms and six conference rooms to an outdoor terrace that provides natural light. Daydreamer Café, the in-house coffee shop on the first floor offers a place to study or socialize. Other amenities for wellness and relaxation include a zero-edge pool and hot tub on the rooftop as well as a fitness center with on-demand rooms, a yoga studio, and a sauna.
According to Reyes, Rambler Columbus is the first large-scale luxury student housing development in the area, meeting the need for student housing and the Ohio capital city’s rapid growth.
“Students are excited about a new wave of luxury properties with access to quality living options in a location within walking distance of their campus,” Reyes says. “Rambler Columbus’ successful pre-leasing rate reflects students’ desires to live in community with one another, as opposed to spread out among houses across a city.”
Rambler Columbus focuses on experience-based living, with a thoughtful list of amenities curated after talking with students at The Ohio State University. These include collaborative workspaces with private study spots; a Daydreamer Cafe; a rooftop with a pool, a grilling station, fire pits, and a jumbotron; and a yoga studio, a sauna, a cold plunge, and a fitness center with premium equipment.
Morgan State University Gets First Off-Campus Student Housing in Over 20 Years
The Enolia, a 151-unit, 473-bed off-campus student housing development in Baltimore, has welcomed its first residents. The $58 million development from MCB Real Estate is less than a mile from Morgan State University’s main campus, Maryland’s preeminent historically Black college and university.
It is named after one of Baltimore’s significant civil rights leaders, Enolia Pettigen McMillan who made contributions to the desegregation of Maryland schools and the advancement of African Americans.
“The Enolia is a testament to MCB Real Estate’s commitment to the university and Northeast Baltimore, building on previous successful collaborations such as the redevelopment of Northwood Commons,” says MCB Real Estate co-founder and management partner P. David Bramble. “This project stands as a beacon of revitalization and a new standard for student living, while paying homage to one of the nation’s most pivotal civil rights heroes.”
The building was thoughtfully designed to balance the added density to the Hamilton-Lauraville Main Street while minimizing the impact to the surrounding neighborhood. Units come fully furnished with full-size washers and dryers, quartz countertops, and stainless steel appliances, while each of the bedrooms has a private en-suite bathroom.
Amenities focus on fostering academic success and community. Interior amenities include a state-of-the-art fitness center, lounges for individual study and group collaboration, study rooms with private huddle areas, and a game room. Outdoors, students can take advantage of the courtyard’s three terraced levels with seating, lawn areas, and a fire pit.
According to MCB Real Estate, The Enolia marks the first apartment building specifically built to serve Morgan State University students in two decades. To meet the university’s urgent housing needs, MCB Real Estate combined social impact capital and traditional investment capital to make the development a reality. It also partnered with nonprofit Hamilton-Lauraville Main Street, which, in collaboration with Morgan State, secured a SEED Anchor Institution grant from the state to support key early-stage work.
Michaels, Partners Deliver New Student Housing at Lynn University
The Michaels Organization, with Lynn University leadership and Provident Resources Group, has brought new student housing to the campus in Boca Raton. Banyan Residence Hall, the first phase, comprises 287 beds and features two- and four-bedroom units for second-year students.
The community comes at a pivotal time, with the university announcing its largest enrollment to date. The $47.2 million development also is part of the university’s 2025 strategic plan to elevate the student experience by developing long-term housing options.
“The new Lynn University student housing community is designed to support a holistic student experience. Thoughtfully designed suite-style accommodations are enhanced with purposeful academic spaces and engaging social environments that foster community building, well-being, and student success,” says Williams.
Residents have access to a community center, multiple lounges, a study room, package lockers, a community mailroom, and package lockers. Outdoor features include grilling and dining areas, a fire pit, and ample lounge seating.
Project partners included advisory firm Brailsford & Dunlavey, architect Ayers Saint Gross, and general contractor Kaufman Lynn.
Subtext Brings New Communities to University of Michigan, Purdue
Two of Subtext’s recent developments, VERVE Ann Arbor and EVER West Lafayette, reflect the developer’s commitment to highly intentional, market-specific student housing that responds to evolving demographic expectations as well as the local dynamics.
VERVE Ann Arbor provides 741 beds in 217 units for University of Michigan students. The 12-story building features studio to six-bedroom layouts.
“In Ann Arbor, VERVE builds on Subtext’s deep experience in the market, where the combination of high land costs, limited inventory, and an affluent student population creates demand for vertically scaled, high-touch products,” Korte says. “Through gaining a deep understanding of what drives student demand in Ann Arbor, Subtext secured a site that’s walkable to the business school, quad, and downtown and designed a community that blends the university’s historic gothic architecture with modern, lifestyle-driven design.”
Amenities include a double-height fitness center with a dedicated wellness suite with sauna, meditation, and yoga rooms as well as a rooftop deck with a pool, a hot tub, an outdoor kitchen, a jumbotron, cabanas with TVs, and yard games. It also features private conference rooms with ample study spaces, a dog park, on-site bike storage with repair services, and EV charging stations. In addition, Subtext partnered with local favorite Misfit Society Coffee Club to include a coffee shop on the ground floor.
VERVE Ann Arbor was developed in partnership with FrontRange Capital and Kayne Anderson Real Estate. Financing was arranged by a syndicate of lenders led by Webster Bank. Additional partners include WDG Architecture, Brinkmann Constructors, and ESG Architecture & Design.
EVER West Lafayette brings 143 units with 449 beds to the Purdue campus and introduces a new chapter for Subtext as the debut of its wellness-forward brand, EVER.
“Positioned across the street from the earlier VERVE project, EVER caters to students seeking balance, intentionality, and high-performance living environments,” says Korte. “The mix of apartments and townhome-style units engages the streetscape, bringing scale and connection to the neighborhood, while interiors and amenities prioritize holistic well-being.”
Amenities include a resort-style courtyard with a pool, a hot tub, and a jumbotron; a fitness center with cardio and strength training; private wellness rooms; open study lounges as well as private and collaborative workspaces; and a pet spa and a dog park.
EVER West Lafayette opened just one year after VERVE West Lafayette, representing continued investment by Subtext into the Purdue market. It was developed in partnership with Kayne Anderson Real Estate with First Mid Bank & Trust as the lender. Architecture and interior design were led by ESG Architecture & Design, with general contracting by Brinkmann Constructors.
Toll Brothers Campus Living Opens Luxury Community Near UCF Campus
Toll Brothers Campus Living, a division of national home builder Toll Brothers, and joint-venture partner The Davis Cos. has opened Aperture, an elevated student housing community in Orlando near the University of Central Florida campus.
The community, which welcomed its first residents in August, offers 204 units with 680 beds in a mix of studio, one-, two-, and four-bedroom floor plans.
“We’re thrilled to open Aperture, our second Toll Brothers Campus Living community in Florida,” says Richard Keyser, vice president of acquisitions and development. “With thoughtfully designed residences and immersive amenity spaces, we’re proud to offer a community that helps students thrive academically, socially, and personally.”
The fully furnished units include quartz countertops, energy-efficient stainless steel appliances, full-size washers and dryers, and smart TVs. They also are equipped with smart-home technology, including electronic app-enabled apartment and bedroom locks and USB charging ports.
Students can take advantage of a resort-style pool with a tanning shelf and mini jumbotron as well as a two-story fitness center. Additional amenities include tech-equipped study lounges, a computer lounge with printing, a coffee house, an e-sports gaming lounge, a gated dog park, communitywide Wi-Fi, and a private shuttle to and from campus.