Early results from the 2021 “Multifamily Amenities Survey” from MULTIFAMILY Design+Construction show that the majority of respondents – multifamily developers, apartment operators, architects, contractors, and others in the apartment/condominium sector – either modified their amenities, added new ones, implemented amenity innovations, or took out some amenities from their customary offerings – all in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We’re taking Covid seriously in all aspects,” said one respondent. Another said, “We’re rethinking and reimagining amenities packages to be safer and healthier.”
Multifamily housing owner/operators reported having to close recreation facilities due to the pandemic – a sore point for many residents who love their fitness centers, pools, and hospitality areas. One developer noted the burden of “increased cost for cleaning/maintenance.” Another said their company was able to reopen its swimming pools after temporary closure, but with reduced capacity. Apartment property managers have had to temporarily close dog parks, outdoor grilles and kitchens, and children’s playgrounds, depending on local Covid directives.
But a significant chunk of respondents said they’re sticking with what they’ve always provided. As one respondent put it, “We have not cut back the usual high-quality amenities as we feel the long view will be back.”
Yet many respondents expressed concerns about the long-term effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on their properties in the future. “Since Covid, customers want more from their home,” said a respondent. “They need more places for children to learn and more places for them to work from home. This creates a need for more technological advancement.”
GET ALL THE DATA FROM OUR 3 AMENITIES SURVEYS
This is the 3rd biannual Amenities Survey sponsored by MULTIFAMILY Design+Construction and its sibling publication, Building Design+Construction. This year's survey measures 124 amenities data points. In the final report, the results of the 2021 survey will be compared to the data from the 2017 and 2019 Amenities Surveys.
The survey is open to Multifamily developers, property managers, architects/designers, and builder/contractors. Those who complete the survey will receive a comprehensive PDF report comparing the data from all 3 surveys before anyone else gets the data. (Non-respondents will have wait for publication and register online to get the PDF report.) Click here to get started.
SPACE PLANNING AND ALLOCATION ON THEIR MINDS
Responses from just the first week show that multifamily real estate, design, and construction professionals are struggling with how to deal with planning and space allocation as a result of the pandemic.
“We have added work-from-home spaces within unit plans as well as additional small gathering spaces in amenity areas,” said one respondent. Another said “individual work pod rooms for residents working from home but don't want to be in their residential units” was a priority.
Yet another said “the latest client request” has been to introduce a shared work space room with individual work pods and a lounge area with coffee/drink station.
“We moved furniture and equipment to meet social distancing requirements,” a respondent replied. Another added acrylic screens at reception desks in its properties.
One respondent’s company is “paying more attention to materials and furniture, fixtures, and other products that are easily cleanable.” Another has been installing air purification systems as a retrofit in amenity spaces and elevator areas.
BIGGEST CONCERN: DEALING WITH WORK FROM HOME
Many respondents reported efforts to respond to the skyrocketing work-from-home demand, such as:
- In-residence work nooks
- Privatized work/study spaces on each floor to serve work from home
- Outdoor workstations
- Larger apartment unit sizes to accommodate work from home
- Isolation rooms for shared living units
Others have installed outdoor fitness options, placed sanitizing stations around their communities, and added touchless access controls. ICovid instructional signage in shared areas, third-party resident virtual events, and hands-free entry doors at the clubhouse and on fixtures in common area bathrooms were among other actions taken by respondents.
One developer, whose current projects were still in the design development phase, was able to change the design to add exterior balconies and in-home work nooks for every apartment.
One developer was considering “multiple smaller social spaces rather than one large gathering area, and more individual small-group breakout areas.” Another said future developments would “disperse amenities throughout the project rather than in one mega-amenity,” and put more investment in outdoor spaces.
As one respondent concluded, “We believe many [occupiers] will continue to work from home at least part time after the pandemic, so we’re recommending more communal working space, such as coworking with private spaces."
COVID-RELATED AMENITIES NOT THE WHOLE STORY
Many respondents had introduced other new offerings in their amenity packages in the last two years, notably:
- Rooftop track/walking path
- Free Wi-Fi
- Dog-friendly streetscapes
- Rooftop off-leash dog park
- Picnic gazebo
- Rock climbing
- Pickleball courts (see “Pickleball, anyone?”)
Among the more interesting and unusual amenity upgrades cited:
- Senior in-house medical space
- Hydroponic farm/aquaculture
- Food truck
- Circadian lighting
Individual developments added art spaces, galleries, music practice rooms, and chess tables.
TECHNOLOGY IMPROVEMENTS OF INTEREST, TOO
Some survey respondents said they were “addressing the need to provide increased electrical power needs to individual units" – perhaps yet another response to the work-from-home phenomenon.
Others added extra electrical for charging cellphones and laptops outside, as residents choose to work outdoors as much as possible.
Several multifamily housing firms also added electric vehicle charging outlets in their garages.
Some property managers apparently were keen to make renters more aware of their utility usage, by installing water and electricity meters in individual living units.
Security upgrades and better package management systems were also on the list of technological improvements.
DON’T WAIT – START THE SURVEY NOW!
The survey is open for your input. Click here to get started.
Related Stories
Mixed-Use | Jun 29, 2023
Massive work-live-play development opens in LA's new Cumulus District
VOX at Cumulus, a 14-acre work-live-play development in Los Angeles, offers 910 housing units and 100,000 sf of retail space anchored by a Whole Foods outlet. VOX, one of the largest mixed-use communities to open in the Los Angeles area, features apartments and townhomes with more than one dozen floorplans.
Multifamily Housing | Jun 29, 2023
5 ways to rethink the future of multifamily development and design
The Gensler Research Institute’s investigation into the residential experience indicates a need for fresh perspectives on residential design and development, challenging norms, and raising the bar.
Office Buildings | Jun 28, 2023
When office-to-residential conversion works
The cost and design challenges involved with office-to-residential conversions can be daunting; designers need to devise creative uses to fully utilize the space.
Multifamily Housing | Jun 28, 2023
Sutton Tower, an 80-story multifamily development, completes construction in Manhattan’s Midtown East
In Manhattan’s Midtown East, the construction of Sutton Tower, an 80-story residential building, has been completed. Located in the Sutton Place neighborhood, the tower offers 120 for-sale residences, with the first move-ins scheduled for this summer. The project was designed by Thomas Juul-Hansen and developed by Gamma Real Estate and JVP Management. Lendlease, the general contractor, started construction in 2018.
Affordable Housing | Jun 27, 2023
Racial bias concerns prompt lawmakers to ask HUD to ban biometric surveillance, including facial recognition
Two members of the U.S. House of Representative have asked the Department of Housing and Urban Development to end the use of biometric technology, including facial recognition, for surveillance purposes in public housing.
Apartments | Jun 27, 2023
Average U.S. apartment rent reached all-time high in May, at $1,716
Multifamily rents continued to increase through the first half of 2023, despite challenges for the sector and continuing economic uncertainty. But job growth has remained robust and new households keep forming, creating apartment demand and ongoing rent growth. The average U.S. apartment rent reached an all-time high of $1,716 in May.
Apartments | Jun 27, 2023
Dallas high-rise multifamily tower is first in state to receive WELL Gold certification
HALL Arts Residences, 28-story luxury residential high-rise in the Dallas Arts District, recently became the first high-rise multifamily tower in Texas to receive WELL Gold Certification, a designation issued by the International WELL Building Institute. The HKS-designed condominium tower was designed with numerous wellness details.
Multifamily Housing | Jun 19, 2023
Adaptive reuse: 5 benefits of office-to-residential conversions
FitzGerald completed renovations on Millennium on LaSalle, a 14-story building in the heart of Chicago’s Loop. Originally built in 1902, the former office building now comprises 211 apartment units and marks LaSalle Street’s first complete office-to-residential conversion.
Urban Planning | Jun 15, 2023
Arizona limits housing projects in Phoenix area over groundwater supply concerns
Arizona will no longer grant certifications for new residential developments in Phoenix, it’s largest city, due to concerns over groundwater supply. The announcement indicates that the Phoenix area, currently the nation’s fastest-growing region in terms of population growth, will not be able to sustain its rapid growth because of limited freshwater resources.
