Student housing

This project has been conceived as a multi-layered approach to sustainability, social life and architectural expression.  As with the rest of Mumbai, the IIT Bombay campus faces the challenge of housing an increasing population on a limited parcel of land. The new cluster of three hostels is designed to accommodate 1127 students on a hostel plot that initially held 252 students.  Rajesh Vora Rajesh Vora The site abuts the Powai Lake and is covered with dense foliage of old trees. The primary gesture of organization comes from an impulse of preserving this invaluable natural habitat: The three blocks are located in voids created by the demolished hostel blocks and strategically arranged around the perimeter of the site... More

Located in the underdeveloped region of Lombok, Indonesia, this project represents the first phase of a broader master plan to revitalize an existing school campus. Responding to the region’s tropical climate and cultural heritage, the design integrates passive cooling strategies, locally sourced materials, and vernacular architectural principles to create a sustainable and contextually rooted living environment for students. UNFOLD PLANE UNFOLD PLANE The building orientation follows an east-west axis, minimizing direct solar exposure and reducing heat gain. The large, encompassing roof, constructed from bamboo and locally sourced straw thatching, serves as both shelter and facade, enhancing shading while allowing for natur... More

Oakley Ridge is a modern, student-housing facility located in the vibrant city of Guelph. The facility, located just a short 15-minute walk from the University of Guelph and a 7-minute drive to downtown Guelph, features an abundance of modern amenities to help students study and connect. The 110 apartment suites are fully-furnished, offering in-suite laundry and energy-efficient appliances in all suites and private balconies available in most units.   Courtesy of Oakley Ridge Other amenities include a fully equipped fitness center and yoga room, a rooftop patio with seating and outdoor grills, social lounges, study spaces, and a communal kitchen and lounge. The surrounding neighborhood offers a grand mix of places to eat and shop... More

Situated on a modest 100 sqm plot in the heart of Belagavi, this student housing project is a masterclass in spatial economy and architectural ingenuity. Conceived as a complex layering of compact, self-contained units, the design prioritizes both density and dignity, maximizing every square inch without compromising on comfort or quality of life for its 29 student residents. Hemant Patil Hemant Patil Clad in a deep terracotta red, the building’s façade exudes a bold, monolithic presence. Its staggered roofline slices through the suburban skyline, breaking the monotony of surrounding low-rise constructions and marking a distinct architectural identity. This expressive silhouette, while playful in form, is a direct re... More

‘The Place’ really is the place-to-be – a stylish, purpose-built Nottingham new student accommodation (PBSA) scheme and a market first for developer and owner MRP. The 409-unit scheme seeks to address the supply and demand imbalance in the city for the incoming undergraduate population and was designed by Belfast-based architects Consarc, with all interior design, from room finishes to the scheme’s showstopping amenity spaces on the ground floor and 11th floor roof terrace, by multi-award-winning interiors consultancy Ekho Studio.  The new-build scheme sees the redevelopment of a brownfield site on the city’s Queen’s Road, directly adjacent to the railway station, and supports Nottingham City Counci... More

Inspire on 22nd was made possible through a partnership with a campus ministry group and a prominent developer of nationwide student living to provide students with a contemporary, accessible housing option in the West Campus neighborhood of Austin, TX. The 18-story tower encompasses 129 furnished units along with mixed-use rooms to host large-scale and private worship services connected between the first and second floors. Jason O'Rear Jason O'Rear Jason O'Rear Jason O'Rear Jason O'Rear A sculptural, wood-clad stair connects both floors and serves as a focal point for public spaces where students can study and host game-watching parties. The plinth design was driven by the desire for a substantial street presence... More

Villas on Rio is a 284-unit high-rise in the heart of the University of Texas at Austin’s West Campus neighborhood. The building spans 19 floors, with the first and second floors serving as flexible study and lounge areas, and a mezzanine overlooking the lobby. Floor plans range from spacious studios to expansive townhomes with single and double-occupancy options, including efficiency “pods” that support density and affordability while maximizing square footage. Jason O'Rear Jason O'Rear Jason O'Rear Jason O'Rear The tower wraps around the historic Kenney House, a two-story Victorian home facing West 22nd Street. Full-height glass windows on the lower levels of the project feature views of the historic... More

The area of Sloterdijk, west of the city centre of Amsterdam, is undergoing a radical transformation. As a result of the 2008 financial crisis this initially mono-functional office area suffered high rates of vacancy. The lack of housing and public amenities lead to a decay of the environment as a whole. Reacting to the housing shortage crisis, the city of Amsterdam formulated a new zoning plan transforming vacant office buildings into short-stay apartments and allowing for additional 1,500 to 2,000 new dwellings to be built. Sonia Mangiapane The Student Village is built in the direct vicinity of the Sloterdijk Station. It is a modular structure based on a prefabricated student housing unit. The construction method and its low cost me... More

The Green Oaks Biological Research Station, situated in a forest in rural Illinois belonging to Knox College, builds on existing facilities to provide a platform for research, study, instruction and living in the heart of the College's forestry research habitat.  Subtle in its simplicity, the project uses an X-shaped plan to accommodate and also separate the various uses, responding to adjacent spaces, structures and landscapes while also referencing the X in the school's name.  Drawing on numerous architectural threads, the building takes inspiration from sources as diverse as the Jeffersonian University of Virginia campus and the iconic red barns of rural Illinois. asap/ adam sokol architecture practice asap/ adam sokol... More

Tooker House at Arizona State University is a new living/learning community designed to serve freshman engineering students. The seven-story, 458,000-square-foot project includes 1,582 beds for students in semi-suite units, staff apartments, a 525-seat dining hall, a convenience store, numerous dedicated student study and social lounges, and a fitness center. A large maker lab enjoys a prominent and highly visible location on the ground floor of the building, expanding the academic core of the campus and providing residents with space and resources to continue class work and experimental ideas at any time of day. Sliding glass walls allow activities to spill outdoors, where exhibition pedestals enable students to present their work and invi... More

Nestled at the north edge of Toronto is York University. The university has resided in the area since 1959 and now enrolls 53,000 students on average annually, with 300,000 alumni worldwide. York U ranks #4 in Maclean’s Education 2024 standings for “Canada’s Best Comprehensive Universities” slotting just behind Waterloo and ahead of Carleton. For such a prestigious and well-known university, adequate student housing would help this continuing trend of success. Courtesy of The Quad at York University As a result, York University opened The Quad at York, a mixed-use building, in 2018. Phase II opened in October of 2022. Phase II of The Quad features many of the same benefits as Phase I. Both are mixed-use facilit... More

Recognizing the critical need to accommodate its growing academic programs, NYU engaged Davis Brody Bond and KieranTimberlake to replace its one-story Coles Sports Center with a new mixed-use development to hold a diverse array of performing arts programs, rehearsal studios, and performance venues, as well as first-year student and faculty housing. Spacesmith designed and selected all the furnishings for the 735,000 sf building. In addition to the functional and aesthetic aspects, our team was tasked with specifying furniture with low emitting materials and third party testing in order to assist with LEED certification.  Caption Caption Caption Caption Caption Caption Photo credit: Connie Zhou / JBSA More