Eighty-seven percent of residents consider amenities when signing or renewing a lease. That is, according to market research by Joe Duffus, CEO of Builders Design, and Justin Bucy, director at Housing Design Matters.
Based on market research and trends, Duffus and Bucy shared some primary areas of focus for multifamily amenities during their presentation at the 2023 International Builders’ Show. Whether it’s picking interior design elements or catering to your target demographic, here’s what their research has found.
3 important focus areas for amenities
In order to attract modern tenants, you need spaces that function for their preferred way of life.
1. Remote work
It’s not going away anytime soon. According to McKinsey data, nearly 60% of people work from home at least one day a week.
![Covid-related “isolation pods” like this were mentioned by several Amenities Survey 2021 respondents](/sites/default/files/inline-images/COVID-19%E2%80%99s%20impact%20on%20multifamily%20amenities%201%20Outdoor%20fitness%20-%20Liv%2B%20Campus%20Adv%20Hue%20-%20Enclosed%20office%20-%20Green%20St.jpeg)
Remote work amenities could be anything from workspaces to meeting rooms and “Zoom booths.” It could be as simple as having minimalist workstations in a designated co-working space, as long as the design is inviting and functional (high-speed internet is a must). No one wants to sit and look at a blank wall—they can do that at home.
With the variety of careers going fully remote, Bucy has even seen podcasting/recording studios emerge in the multifamily space.
2. Relaxation and personal wellness
Water features, gardens, and meditative spaces can help residents up their relaxation game, making them feel even more at home. Whether it’s a simple outdoor fountain that provides calming white noise, or a tucked-away library for needed quiet time, amenities that promote relaxation can help retain tenants each and every year.
On the other hand, dedicated fitness centers are also essential for resident wellness—but long gone are the days of minimal equipment in a cramped room. Depending on your target demographic, choose between free weights or weight machines (or even both) as long as you maintain adequate, clear floor space. Consider using a fitness consultant to help layout and optimize the room.
![7 tips for designing fitness studios in multifamily housing developments - cortland gateway](/sites/default/files/inline-images/7%20tips%20for%20designing%20fitness%20studios%20in%20multifamily%20housing%20developments%20-%20cortland%20gateway.jpeg)
Also, keep in mind the various ways people exercise: yoga, stretching, aerobics, etc. If possible, implement space for such alternative activities in your fitness room.
3. Outdoor spaces
Community fire pits/grills, lounging areas, hiking trails, or pools offer residents the chance to socialize day and night. With modern technology, you can implement a simple, sleek fire table that’s both easy to operate and functional in tighter spaces. And don’t sleep on rope lights—they can help define and elevate any outdoor area. Bucy emphasizes the inclusion of covered outdoor spaces as well, citing his firm’s 20% increase in the feature as of late.
Bonus amenity considerations
After nailing these focus areas, Duffus and Bucy suggest improving upon your development further.
- Community cultivation. Look for a chance to create communities with your attractive amenities. Consider your target market and let it influence your design choices. A gathering space could be designed as a bar/lounge for the younger crowd, or as a sleek kitchen-like common room for elegant types. Bucy also sees opportunities for creating community through flex room design. Give it a theme—maybe with wine or scotch lockers—to spur engagement and connectivity.
- Package/mail room. Bucy finds that for the mail room and package receptacles, you only need to provide enough parcel lockers for about 30% – 40% of units.
- Pet amenities. According to Bucy, the Covid-19 pandemic led to a record number of pet adoptions. Subsequently, dog parks and washing stations are in the highest demand. With pet spas and washing stations, he’s found the most success in keeping them away from community spaces. Group these pet rooms closer to maintenance/pool equipment areas. Your tenants—and their noses—will thank you.
Related Stories
| Oct 13, 2010
Residences bring students, faculty together in the Middle East
A new residence complex is in design for United Arab Emirates University in Al Ain, UAE, near Abu Dhabi. Plans for the 120-acre mixed-use development include 710 clustered townhomes and apartments for students and faculty and common areas for community activities.
| Oct 13, 2010
Community center under way in NYC seeks LEED Platinum
A curving, 550-foot-long glass arcade dubbed the “Wall of Light” is the standout architectural and sustainable feature of the Battery Park City Community Center, a 60,000-sf complex located in a two-tower residential Lower Manhattan complex. Hanrahan Meyers Architects designed the glass arcade to act as a passive energy system, bringing natural light into all interior spaces.
| Oct 12, 2010
The Watch Factory, Waltham, Mass.
27th Annual Reconstruction Awards — Gold Award. When the Boston Watch Company opened its factory in 1854 on the banks of the Charles River in Waltham, Mass., the area was far enough away from the dust, dirt, and grime of Boston to safely assemble delicate watch parts.
| Sep 13, 2010
Richmond living/learning complex targets LEED Silver
The 162,000-sf living/learning complex includes a residence hall with 122 units for 459 students with a study center on the ground level and communal and study spaces on each of the residential levels. The project is targeting LEED Silver.
| Sep 13, 2010
Committed to the Core
How a forward-looking city government, a growth-minded university, a developer with vision, and a determined Building Team are breathing life into downtown Phoenix.
| Aug 11, 2010
Brown Craig Turner opens senior living studio
Baltimore-based architecture and design firm Brown Craig Turner has significantly expanded its housing design capabilities and expertise with the launch of its new senior living studio.
| Aug 11, 2010
CTBUH changes height criteria; Burj Dubai height increases, others decrease
The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH)—the international body that arbitrates on tall building height and determines the title of “The World’s Tallest Building”—has announced a change to its height criteria, as a reflection of recent developments with several super-tall buildings.
| Aug 11, 2010
Morphosis builds 'floating' house for Brad Pitt's Make It Right New Orleans foundation
Morphosis Architects, under the direction of renowned architect and UCLA professor Thom Mayne, has completed the first floating house permitted in the U.S. for Brad Pitt’s Make It Right Foundation in New Orleans.The FLOAT House is a new model for flood-safe, affordable, and sustainable housing that is designed to float securely with rising water levels.
| Aug 11, 2010
Bovis Lend Lease, Webcor among nation's largest multifamily contractors, according to BD+C's Giants 300 report
A ranking of the Top 50 Multifamily Contractors based on Building Design+Construction's 2009 Giants 300 survey. For more Giants 300 rankings, visit http://www.BDCnetwork.com/Giants