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 | Feb 18, 2015
Preparing for the worst: Campus security since Virginia Tech
Seven years after the mass shootings at Virginia Tech, colleges and universities continue to shake up their emergency communications and response capabilities to shootings and other criminal threats.
University Buildings | Feb 17, 2015
BD+C exclusive: How security is influencing campus design and construction
Campus crime—whether real or perceived—presents Building Teams with more opportunities for early-stage consultation with university clients.
Architects | Feb 11, 2015
Shortlist for 2015 Mies van der Rohe Award announced
Copenhagen, Berlin, and Rotterdam are the cities where most of the shortlisted works have been built.
| Jan 7, 2015
University of Chicago releases proposed sites for Obama library bid
There are two proposed sites for the plan, both owned by the Chicago Park District in Chicago’s South Side, near the university’s campus in Hyde Park, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
| Jan 2, 2015
Construction put in place enjoyed healthy gains in 2014
Construction consultant FMI foresees—with some caveats—continuing growth in the office, lodging, and manufacturing sectors. But funding uncertainties raise red flags in education and healthcare.
BIM and Information Technology | Dec 28, 2014
The Big Data revolution: How data-driven design is transforming project planning
There are literally hundreds of applications for deep analytics in planning and design projects, not to mention the many benefits for construction teams, building owners, and facility managers. We profile some early successful applications.
| Dec 28, 2014
AIA course: Enhancing interior comfort while improving overall building efficacy
Providing more comfortable conditions to building occupants has become a top priority in today’s interior designs. This course is worth 1.0 AIA LU/HSW.
| Nov 3, 2014
An ancient former post office in Portland, Ore., provides an even older art college with a new home
About seven years ago, The Pacific Northwest College of Art, the oldest art college in Portland, was evaluating its master plan with an eye towards expanding and upgrading its campus facilities. A board member brought to the attention of the college a nearby 134,000-sf building that had once served as the city’s original post office.
| Oct 16, 2014
Perkins+Will white paper examines alternatives to flame retardant building materials
The white paper includes a list of 193 flame retardants, including 29 discovered in building and household products, 50 found in the indoor environment, and 33 in human blood, milk, and tissues.