A substantial percentage of respondents (62.4%) to a recent survey by Multifamily Design + Construction magazine (a BD+C sister publication) had provided additional storage space or lockers outside the living units—a strong indication that tenants and condo owners crave extra space for their stuff.
Tenants also crave lounge spaces (both indoor and outdoor) and other areas where they can socialize and relax, including rooftop terraces, coffee bars, fire pits, and cafés, according to the survey of 215 multifamily developers, designers, and builders.
Two-thirds of respondents (67.5%) said they had included a lounge in a recent apartment or condominium project—a relatively easy amenity to supply, which raises the question, Why not 100%?
Half of respondents included a café; ditto for a community kitchen. Additional indoor amenities: video/film screening room (20.6%), music-rehearsal-performance room (12.9%), and—perhaps an up-and-coming offering—wine cellar/wine storage on site (15.4%).
Respondents also stated they had provided a wide variety of “other” outdoor amenities to guests: outdoor movie screens (17.6%), Jacuzzis (17.1%), and catering pantries (11.1%).
More results from the MFDC survey to come next week.
Outdoor multifamily amenities:
Storage (outside the units): 62.4%
Fire Pit/Grill: 60.8%
Lounge Area: 59.3%
Rooftop Terrace (tie): 55.3%
Garden Walk (tie): 55.3%
Pool (indoor or outdoor): 49.8%
Community Kitchen (outdoor): 36.7%
Cabanas: 33.7%
Community Garden/Urban Farm: 29.7%
Indoor multifamily amenities:
Lounge: 67.5%
Coffee Bar/Café: 51.0%
Community Kitchen (indoor): 50.5%
Library/Reading Area: 36.6%
Catering Area: 28.9%
Base: 214
Source: Multifamily Design + Construction Reader Survey, June-July 2017
Related Stories
MFPRO+ News | Jun 20, 2024
National multifamily outlook: Summer 2024
The multifamily sector continues to be strong in 2024, even when a handful of challenges are present. That is according to the Matrix Multifamily National Report for Summer 2024.
Multifamily Housing | Jun 17, 2024
Elevating multifamily properties through quiet luxury
As the demands of urban living continue to evolve, the need for a tranquil and refined home environment has never been more pronounced.
Multifamily Housing | Jun 14, 2024
AEC inspections are the key to financially viable office to residential adaptive reuse projects
About a year ago our industry was abuzz with an idea that seemed like a one-shot miracle cure for both the shockingly high rate of office vacancies and the worsening housing shortage. The seemingly simple idea of converting empty office buildings to multifamily residential seemed like an easy and elegant solution. However, in the intervening months we’ve seen only a handful of these conversions, despite near universal enthusiasm for the concept.
Adaptive Reuse | Jun 13, 2024
4 ways to transform old buildings into modern assets
As cities grow, their office inventories remain largely stagnant. Yet despite changes to the market—including the impact of hybrid work—opportunities still exist. Enter: “Midlife Metamorphosis.”
Affordable Housing | Jun 12, 2024
Studio Libeskind designs 190 affordable housing apartments for seniors
In Brooklyn, New York, the recently opened Atrium at Sumner offers 132,418 sf of affordable housing for seniors. The $132 million project includes 190 apartments—132 of them available to senior households earning below or at 50% of the area median income and 57 units available to formerly homeless seniors.
MFPRO+ News | Jun 11, 2024
Rents rise in multifamily housing for May 2024
Multifamily rents rose for the fourth month in a row, according to the May 2024 National Multifamily Report. Up 0.6% year-over-year, the average U.S. asking rent increased by $6 in May, up to $1,733.
Apartments | Jun 4, 2024
Apartment sizes on the rise after decade-long shrinking trend
The average size of new apartments in the U.S. saw substantial growth in 2023, bouncing back to 916 sf after a steep decline the previous year. That is according to a recent RentCafe market insight report released this month.
Multifamily Housing | Jun 3, 2024
Grassroots groups becoming a force in housing advocacy
A growing movement of grassroots organizing to support new housing construction is having an impact in city halls across the country. Fed up with high housing costs and the commonly hostile reception to new housing proposals, advocacy groups have sprung up in many communities to attend public meetings to speak in support of developments.
MFPRO+ News | Jun 3, 2024
New York’s office to residential conversion program draws interest from 64 owners
New York City’s Office Conversion Accelerator Program has been contacted by the owners of 64 commercial buildings interested in converting their properties to residential use.
MFPRO+ News | Jun 3, 2024
Seattle mayor wants to scale back energy code to spur more housing construction
Seattle’s mayor recently proposed that the city scale back a scheduled revamping of its building energy code to help boost housing production. The proposal would halt an update to the city’s multifamily and commercial building energy code that is scheduled to take effect later this year.
