06 Jun Take 5 | June 2022

1. The recent InterFace Student Housing Conference shone a spotlight on the robust student housing market. Josh Kassing, our VP/Design Development, spoke on a distinguished panel of experts at the event about how to juggle design intent and strategy with rising labor, material, and financing costs. Josh noted it takes strong collaborative and responsive design teams to successfully navigate these times while maintaining design intent and cost overruns.

2. RE Business Online reported from the conference that the industry’s outlook looks strong as investors continue to show active interest in new projects. The panelists’ perspectives summarized in Student Housing is Growing on Institutional Investors’ Radars, Say InterFace Panelists indicate increasing institutional capital into student housing, potential for rent growth and shifting enrollment patterns.

3. According to A New Student Housing JV Launches, recent numbers from Yardi Matrix corroborate the InterFace panelists’ findings. Their most recent numbers indicate the student housing sector has shown resiliency throughout the pandemic and has mostly recovered from its pre-pandemic slide. And they estimate a nearly three percent rent increase for fall 2022.

4. Wellness-based living for students is an interesting niche to watch. First Wellness cohort reflects on application, experience as end of year nears is an interesting read on Brown University’s Wellness Center and Residence Hall which provides a wellness-focused living and learning experience. Over 1,600 students applied to Wellness which the University developed to create an environment for students who are committed to developing and sustaining healthy lifestyles, are studying holistic approaches to wellness, and want to live with like‑minded students.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]