Collaborating Through Design Challenges

The attributes of precast concrete enable realization of aesthetic and structural goals for new student life environments

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Sponsored by Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (PCI)

By Amanda C. Voss, MPP

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Surveys Say…

In 2010, Longwood University released results from its “Student Housing Preference Survey,” published in Contemporary Issues in Education Research: “When asked to rank the most important consideration in choosing housing, ‘security’ was ranked first, followed by proximity to campus and cost. For a majority of respondents, a ‘deal breaker’ in the housing decision included: no Internet access (92.9 percent), no laundry facilities on premises (84.9 percent), no cable TV (75.7 percent), and no kitchen (57.4 percent). For approximately half of the respondents, sharing a bedroom was a ‘deal breaker’ (49.3 percent) as were twin beds (42.1 percent). Surprisingly, sharing a bathroom was only a deal breaker for 11.7 percent.”⁴

“Gauging Student Living Preferences,” a survey of 7,095 graduate and undergraduate students, was published and prepared for Multifamily Executive by Houston-based J Turner Research. Mirroring results from Longwood’s survey, J Turner Research found that apartment size is “a significant driver behind student housing decisions,” ranking as “extremely important” by 65 percent of survey respondents. A majority of students indicated a preference for a midrise building, a community cottage, or a townhouse. Only a small percentage of students (9 percent) indicated a preference for high-rise living. Students preferred either modern or traditional design, with few voicing support for funky or eclectic styles.¹¹

Three trends appear from data evaluating college student preferences. All students are concerned with quality of life, life safety, and healthful amenities. Making these attributes a priority through housing design pays off for universities in both enrollment and longevity, and additionally brings benefits to the student body.

Students spend more than two-thirds (70 percent) of their time at college outside of the classroom.¹² A yearlong study of 14 colleges researched on-campus involvement and sense of community among students. It found that “students who are actively involved in academic and out-of-class activities are better integrated into the academic and social life of the institution. Students are also more satisfied and more likely to graduate.”

Housing is ultimately where the bulk of student time will be spent, making it a vital place to encourage student development. “The ability of residence hall students to interact with other students is also one of the most important factors in predicting their overall satisfaction in residence halls.”¹³ Incorporating a mix of private and public areas, along with desired amenities, allows housing to make a powerful statement for the university and its mission.

Thoughtful Amenities Aid Student Satisfaction and Well-Being

While security and housing cost are important considerations for students, the “Longwood University Student Housing Survey” revealed the following top 10 amenities that are either “very important” or “somewhat important” to students.⁴

Private bedroom (95.5%)
On-site parking (92%)
Double beds (91.3%)
On-site laundry facilities (90.3%)
Internet access (88.8%)
Proximity to campus (73.3%)
Fitness center (73.3%)
Private bathroom (73%)
Cable TV (56.4%)
Satellite dining (50%)

J Turner Research recorded fitness centers as topping the list of common areas students report using, followed by study areas and computer labs. Other popular amenities included coffee shops/cyber cafés and theaters. Space for game rooms and bike storage ranked last.

Fitness centers again topped the list of most important community features, according to J Turner Research. Parking spaces and a pool or spa also were indicated as important amenities. Large dwelling units, in-unit washers and dryers, and storage space ranked as top considerations when choosing housing. Students also indicated the importance of walkability, with the majority surveyed, 37 percent, stating that “walking is the ideal mode of transport to and from campus.”¹¹

While student desires certainly vary with each student, the themes of community, security, and amenities that are both healthful and tech savvy are consonant across campuses. With a majority of student time spent outside of the classroom, making sure housing facilitates livability and learning aids not just the university, but also the students themselves.

Pictured is the precast facade of Jackrabbit Grove.

Photo courtesy Cipher Imaging/Brian J. Rotert

Mixed design elements combine effortlessly on the precast facade of Jackrabbit Grove.

CASE STUDY: JACKRABBIT GROVE, SOUTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY

To stay at the leading edge of construction trends and aesthetic appeal to students, institutions are asking questions about what their dormitories can and should be. For research-based universities like South Dakota State University (SDSU), success in the dog-eat-dog fight for bright, driven students—and the research grants and tuition revenue that comes with them—depends on meeting or exceeding student expectations for on-campus housing.

In 2012, SDSU sought to create a new housing experience that was appealing to potential students and also functioned as the setting for robust intellectual and character growth of the modern college student.

Before construction, SDSU surveyed more than 1,500 students. Residential halls that were affordable, lively, state of the art, and green were at the top of the list. Students also wanted living quarters that were in close proximity to the services they used most: the student union, classrooms, and the wellness center. “We’re after the student comfort factor because that translates into happiness with the living environment, which translates into a connection to campus and, of course, ultimately produces student success connected with their academic efforts,” says SDSU Associate Vice President of Student Affairs Douglas Wermedal.

Based on these results, the construction team proposed building an environment that reflected the creativity of the institution and emboldened students to make lasting connections to people and ideas. Jackrabbit Grove reduces previous SDSU community sizes from 100 residents per floor to 36. The number of students sharing a community bathroom is reduced from 50 students to 18. This dramatic reduction assists in community building, encouraging residents’ affinity for their space and interaction with other students on their floor. Lounge areas on each floor connect with the large kitchen and include a fireplace and flat-screen television. For this LEED Silver-certified project, sustainability was considered every step of the way, including daylighting and lighting controls, low-flow fixtures, increased ventilation, and a very high percentage of regional materials.

Precast panel construction was utilized to accommodate a very aggressive construction schedule, while ensuring long-term durability and ease of maintenance. The use of precast concrete also reduced site disturbance since fewer trucks and less time were required for construction, all of which minimized traffic disturbance on the SDSU campus. Thin-set brick was included in the panels to complement the surrounding campus architecture and obtain the aesthetic appeal desired by students.

Three separate precast designs teams were utilized concurrently to support two separate and concurrent erection crews, securing project completion within 14 months—in time for students to move in prior to the start of the 2013 fall semester.

“A residence hall is an important building that provides a home away from home and will be the center of most of the cherished memories in a student’s academic career,” says Gage Brothers President Tom Kelley. “It was very energizing to be able to collaborate with the university and student stakeholders to complete such an important project on the SDSU campus.”

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Originally published in November 2016

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