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| Architect Photo by Daniel McCullough on Unsplash |
John Vawter is the principal of Capstone Collegiate Communities, LLC, in Birmingham, Alabama. At the firm, John Vawter oversees the development of Capstone's off-campus student housing facilities.
The construction of student housing in America is changing, along with the demographic changes occurring in US colleges. While some years ago student housing developers were competing to come up with the fanciest, most sophisticated housing units for a Millennial student base that had an eye for extravagance, today, developers are pivoting to provide housing facilities that prioritize studying and health and fitness, which are important to Gen Z.
Several years ago, developers were competing to offer resort-style living facilities with amenities like rock-climbing walls, tanning beds, and lazy rivers. Today, however, movie rooms are taking a backseat to fitness studios, while study rooms are being enhanced to facilitate social interaction alongside coursework. There is a discernible push toward more useful amenities.
Another interesting trend among Gen Z student renters is a preference for housing that supports students working in the gig economy. This generation favors this approach, as it prepares them for work in the new economy, which is expected to feature plenty of autonomy.
