Experts from design/planning firm Gresham, Smith and Partners recently posted an intriguing series of blogs about college-age Millennials. Here’s a summary of what Randall Gibson, PE; Mary Couch, NCIDQ, IIDA, LEED AP BD+C; and Brandon Bell had to say about “The New Student”:
LEARN: Colleges and universities have to provide “adaptability, inspiration, and seamless incorporation of technology” throughout the campus. Ergonomic chairs, mobile seating, high-tech A/V equipment, and virtual learning rooms, all enhanced by vibrant colors, are essential. The library must be a “beacon of connectivity,” offering a variety of spaces for small-group study sessions, large-group meetings and events, and one-on-one tutoring. Floor plans should feel open, spacious, easy to maneuver.
“The New Student”
GS&P delved into where Millennials learn, live, shop, and dine.
LIVE: Off-campus housing, such as the GS&P-designed University House at UNC-Charlotte, must rival luxury housing. Fitness rooms, game rooms, study rooms, gourmet kitchens, computer labs, gaming stations, even tanning rooms, have become givens. So are omnipresent WiFi, flat-screen TVs, high-tech computer stations, and conferencing capability. Seating options in break rooms, kitchens, and study rooms should encourage impromptu conversation and interaction.
SHOP: College Millennials gravitate toward mixed-use retail—everything from “sleek and high-tech to vintage,” say the GS&P bloggers. It’s got to be walkable, bikable, or transit accessible. Self-check-out kiosks, free WiFi, and even “flattering lighting” are de rigueur.
Rand Hall. Photo: Bob Schatz. Click to enlarge.
Related Stories
| Jun 3, 2013
Construction spending inches upward in April
The U.S. Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce announced today that construction spending during April 2013 was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $860.8 billion, 0.4 percent above the revised March estimate of $857.7 billion.
| May 20, 2013
Jones Lang LaSalle: All U.S. real estate sectors to post gains in 2013—even retail
With healthier job growth numbers and construction volumes at near-historic lows, real estate experts at Jones Lang LaSalle see a rosy year for U.S. commercial construction.
| Apr 30, 2013
Tips for designing with fire rated glass - AIA/CES course
Kate Steel of Steel Consulting Services offers tips and advice for choosing the correct code-compliant glazing product for every fire-rated application. This BD+C University class is worth 1.0 AIA LU/HSW.
| Apr 24, 2013
Los Angeles may add cool roofs to its building code
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa wants cool roofs added to the city’s building code. He is also asking the Department of Water and Power (LADWP) to create incentives that make it financially attractive for homeowners to install cool roofs.
| Apr 2, 2013
6 lobby design tips
If you do hotels, schools, student unions, office buildings, performing arts centers, transportation facilities, or any structure with a lobby, here are six principles from healthcare lobby design that make for happier users—and more satisfied owners.
| Mar 14, 2013
25 cities with the most Energy Star certified buildings
Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., and Chicago top EPA's list of the U.S. cities with the greatest number of Energy Star certified buildings in 2012.
Building Enclosure Systems | Mar 13, 2013
5 novel architectural applications for metal mesh screen systems
From folding façades to colorful LED displays, these fantastical projects show off the architectural possibilities of wire mesh and perforated metal panel technology.
