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.
Related Stories
University Buildings | Nov 2, 2022
New Univ. of Calif. Riverside business school building will support hybrid learning
A design-build partnership of Moore Ruble Yudell and McCarthy Building Companies will collaborate on a new business school building at the University of California at Riverside.
School Construction | Oct 31, 2022
Claremont McKenna College science center will foster integrated disciplinary research
The design of the Robert Day Sciences Center at Claremont McKenna College will support “a powerful, multi-disciplinary, computational approach to the grand socio-scientific challenges and opportunities of our time—gene, brain, and climate,” says Hiram E. Chodosh, college president.
University Buildings | Oct 27, 2022
The Collaboratory Building will expand the University of Florida’s School of Design, Construction, and Planning
Design firm Brooks + Scarpa recently broke ground on a new addition to the University of Florida’s School of Design, Construction, and Planning (DCP).
Higher Education | Oct 24, 2022
Wellesley College science complex modernizes facility while preserving architectural heritage
A recently completed expansion and renovation of Wellesley College’s science complex yielded a modernized structure for 21st century STEM education while preserving important historical features.
BAS and Security | Oct 19, 2022
The biggest cybersecurity threats in commercial real estate, and how to mitigate them
Coleman Wolf, Senior Security Systems Consultant with global engineering firm ESD, outlines the top-three cybersecurity threats to commercial and institutional building owners and property managers, and offers advice on how to deter and defend against hackers.
University Buildings | Oct 18, 2022
A carbon-neutral-ready university campus opens in Hong Kong
In early September, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) officially opened its new, KPF-designed campus in Nansha, Guangzhou (GZ).
University Buildings | Oct 7, 2022
Auburn’s new culinary center provides real-world education
The six-story building integrates academic and revenue-generating elements.
| Sep 14, 2022
Indian tribe’s new educational campus supports culturally appropriate education
The Kenaitze Indian Tribe recently opened the Kahtnuht’ana Duhdeldiht Campus (Kenai River People’s Learning Place), a new education center in Kenai, Alaska.
University Buildings | Sep 9, 2022
Alan Schlossberg, AIA, LEED AP, joins DesignGroup’s Pittsburgh studio as Regional Practice Leader
Alan Schlossberg, AIA, LEED AP, has joined DesignGroup as a principal of the firm and regional practice leader.
| Sep 2, 2022
New UMass Medical School building enables expanded medical class sizes, research labs
A new nine-story, 350,000 sf biomedical research and education facility under construction at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School in Worcester, Mass., will accommodate larger class sizes and extensive lab space.