LSU alumni who have not-so-fond memories of the quarters where they studied and slept during their years at the university can be forgiven for feeling envious of how some students live today.
In contrast to the typical dormitory or off-campus rental that provided a sparsely furnished, shared room and access to a down-the-hall bathroom used by a dozen other students, increasing numbers of undergrads are selecting modern apartments with their own well-furnished bedroom, private bath, fully appointed kitchen and living room shared by only two or three others.
As Business Report details in a feature from the current issue, such is the lifestyle of students who occupy some of the newest and nicest off-campus housing around LSU—upscale apartments that are typical of student housing developed in the area during the past 15 years. And more such accommodations are on the way.
“Many college students today come from suburban-style homes where they were used to a lot of space and privacy, and maybe their own bathroom, and a lot of universities, for competitive reasons, want their students to have access to that kind of option,” says Eric Bronstein, executive vice president of The Scion Group in Chicago, owner and operator of upscale housing for university students around the country, including Baton Rouge.
Bronstein says growing demand for such digs coincides with the aging of residence halls built in the 1960s and ’70s. Baby boomers’ children (sometimes called “echo boomers”) and grandchildren are much less amenable to dormitory-style living and are more insistent on amenities such as flat-panel TVs, high-speed Internet access everywhere they turn and cushy study and lounge spaces.
Developers may throw in granite countertops, vaulted ceilings, outdoor pools, the occasional golf simulator and patios with BBQ grills to ensure that students take notice. See a photo gallery of the luxury extras at selected posh student apartment complexes. Many universities view upscale residential options on or near campus as a way to keep students happy in an era of intense competition for top student talent.
Read the full feature. Send your comments to editors@businessreport.com.
