Nearly three-fifths of respondents (60%) to a recent survey by Multifamily Design + Construction magazine (a BD+C sister publication) had included free WiFi in a project in the last 24 months; this trend will surely accelerate in the near future as free WiFi becomes more or less a given for marketing purposes in the multifamily arena.
Smart technology like individual metering (48.3%), electric vehicle charging stations (an encouraging 42.0%), and fiber optic service (37.9%) are clearly catching on with developers and designers. Nearly one in four (24.7%) have placed a smart home system (such as Nest) into a project.
More than one in five (21.3%) respondents said they had built phone-charging stations into their complexes.
Some brave pioneers are experimenting with exciting new concepts like co-working spaces (27.6%) and so-called “maker spaces,” innovation centers, or incubator spaces (10.9%).
Is this movement toward individualized smart technology a signal that the days of the “computer room” or business center are numbered? Think about this: What could you do with that valuable found space?
More results from the MFDC survey to come next week.
Business services amenities:
Free Building-wide WiFi: 59.8%
Conference Room: 48.3%
Individually Metered Utilities: 48.3%
Business Center: 42.0%
Electric Vehicle Charging Station: 42.0%
High-speed Fiber Optic Service: 37.9%
Computer Room/Lounge: 36.8%
Media Room/Media Center: 29.3%
Base: 174
Source: Multifamily Design + Construction Reader Survey, June-July 2017
Related Stories
Multifamily Housing | Apr 27, 2019
5 noteworthy multifamily developments
Special-needs housing in West Hollywood, Calif., and a warehouse-turned-apartments in the Twin Cities are among the notable multifamily projects to open recently.
| Apr 26, 2019
Organized Living Offers ‘Century Gray’ Product Finish for Multifamily Storage Systems
Organized Living releases new color option for apartment and condominium storage systems.
Multifamily Housing | Apr 23, 2019
Recharging Edison’s batteries
America’s greatest inventor would have appreciated this project team’s ingenuity and persistence.
Multifamily Housing | Apr 17, 2019
Multifamily real estate trends for 2019 and beyond
Boomers are on the move and Millennials are seeing upward mobility, but issues with affordability and housing product mix persist.
Multifamily Housing | Apr 16, 2019
Multifamily rentals are still alive and kickin’
Apartments are being built, and in goodly number. But not enough of it is affordable.
Multifamily Housing | Apr 12, 2019
NYC officials partner with nonprofit to build modular affordable housing
Thorobird and BACDYS partner with Brooklyn’s FullStack Modular on project.
Multifamily Housing | Apr 11, 2019
St. Augustine Terrace brings affordable housing to the Bronx
Magnusson Architecture + Planning designed the building.
Multifamily Housing | Apr 8, 2019
Priced to sell: DUMBO condo development offers starter units in luxury setting
Designed by ODA New York, 98 Front Street will be loaded with amenities like a salt water pool, co-working spaces, and indoor and outdoor fitness centers.
Reconstruction & Renovation | Apr 5, 2019
Historic Corrigan Tower in Dallas becomes 1900 Pacific Residences
The 18-story Corrigan Tower in the Dallas’s historic downtown district is now a thriving 150-unit apartment residence community.
Multifamily Housing | Apr 3, 2019
Multifamily rent growth hits two-year high in February, rising 3.6%
A survey of 127 major U.S. real estate markets by Yardi Matrix shows no signs of slowing for multifamily rental demand.
