In 2022 and 2023 Florida State University (FSU or University) sought to hire a consulting team with robust student housing expertise to help plan the next phase of the University’s on-campus housing program. Tallahassee is one of the country’s most competitive student housing markets. Anticipating the need for a new residence hall over the coming years, senior housing leadership wanted to be sure that they made the right investments to retain residents and serve their needs as they work toward academic success.
Scion consultants, working alongside the dining experts at Envision Strategies, made recommendations regarding the layout of the sleeping space, amenities, and additional support functions. The goal was to make any new facility an anchor of student activity to support the residential experience. With a continual focus on the mission, our team will ensure that all recommendations support FSU’s objectives of academic success, student success, and stewardship of valuable institutional resources.
Our team worked seamlessly with FSU to ensure that the University gained a thorough understanding of best practices in student housing design and operations to further these institutional objectives. The analysis included:
- Trends at peer institutions for various student and university cohorts,
- The inclusion of various university support services within residential facilities,
- The relationship between on and off-campus housing in comparable markets
- Considerations for complying with various federal statutes, including the Americans with Disabilities Act and Fair Housing requirements.
The final presentation of results is pending, but after preliminary review, it is clear that Scion and Envisions have enabled FSU to make informed decisions regarding the evolution of on-campus housing at the University.