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
Multifamily Housing | Oct 30, 2017
Multifamily ventilation: Help buildings breathe
What's the right set of "lungs" for your building?
Multifamily Housing | Oct 30, 2017
First two affordable family apartment communities open in Irvine’s master planned Great Park Neighborhoods community
The buildings offer a total of 166 apartments.
Multifamily Housing | Oct 29, 2017
Multifamily visionaries: The Beach Company’s family ties
Spanning four generations, The Beach Company continues to expand its development footprint across the Southeast.
Greenbuild Report | Oct 19, 2017
Can 'living well' sell?
As the competition for renters and buyers heats up, multifamily developers look to health and wellness for an edge.
Multifamily Housing | Oct 19, 2017
Enlightened conversion: A church becomes condos in D.C.
Once there were 857 churches in the District of Columbia. Now there are 856. One of them became an award-winning condominium complex.
University Buildings | Oct 13, 2017
The University of Oklahoma receives its first residential colleges
The residential communities were designed by KWK Architects and combine living and learning amenities.
Multifamily Housing | Oct 11, 2017
A 267-unit multifamily community is under construction in Summerville, S.C.
Summer Wind will be about half an hour outside of Charleston, S.C., in the rapidly expanding Summerville submarket.
Multifamily Housing | Oct 9, 2017
6 new products for the multifamily construction market
Bamboo wall panels, an adaptable prep sink, and a two-tiered bike parking system are among the product innovations geared for multifamily buildings.
Multifamily Housing | Sep 27, 2017
Pickleball, anyone?
Two-and-a-half million Americans are playing the game with the funny name.
Mixed-Use | Sep 25, 2017
One of L.A.’s most sought-after neighborhoods receives a new mixed-use development
The new development will feature 166 units and 9,000 sf of ground-floor retail.