Typically, most universities will send out a request for proposal (RFP) when they’re interested in teaming up with the private sector to provide on-campus housing.
At that point, American Campus strives to meet with various university officials to get a more comprehensive understanding of their needs, says Trubiana. “That may seem like an obvious thing to do, but sometimes the university’s prioritized needs aren’t explicitly communicated in the RFP. So, we find out what’s important and we work very hard to meet or exceed their expectations,” he says.
The State University of New York at Buffalo chose American Campus to develop two of its housing projects because American Campus “offered a team approach that came with a package that included design, construction and architectural services,” says Dennis Black, vice president for student affairs. In addition, the university was impressed that the company relied not only on its in-house staff, but also worked with a network of professionals from the West New York State region. “American Campus brought in experience from the community that we knew,” he says.
Savannah State University was impressed that “American Campus personnel seemed to comprehend our condition and our needs in-depth and in ways that other major companies simply could not,” says Carlton E. Brown, university president.
“From financial and pricing considerations, to design elements, to project timing and responsiveness to the uniqueness of our campus culture, to the involvement of all necessary parties, this team was impeccable from the start.”
In the past, a typical off-campus student housing complex offered shared bedroom and bathroom units. Today’s students expect their own bedroom and bathroom, which is predominantly what American Campus offers. And, unlike a multifamily two-bedroom unit, which typically consists of a master bedroom and a smaller bedroom, American Campus strives to have everything it develops to be equal in size.
Additionally, from a design standpoint, American Campus uses durable finishes – because the units experience higher traffic and more wear and tear than a normal multifamily apartment.
And, each bedroom, as well as the common living area, is wired for high-speed Internet access. The newest trend for on-campus communities is to have fiber-optics connected directly into the university’s network.