Residence Hall Room Refresh

Students who live on campus, spend a sizable portion of their time in their residence hall room. Their hall is their home for the year, with time spent studying, sleeping, socializing, eating, and attending hall events. On average, a student may spend 10 hours a day in their res hall room, which may equate to thousands of hours over an academic year. And a student’s satisfaction level with their residence hall space has impact on their overall academic experience and affinity for their institution.

As student housing professionals and university administrators look at ways to improve student experience and retention, residence hall improvement projects can be an effective strategy, especially if budgetary constraints make larger renovation projects challenging.

If you are considering a furniture improvement project, you can make positive impact on varying levels depending on your budget. Simply upgrading student room mattresses is a great option, but where budget allows, consider the following project types:

1.       If you have solidly built case good furniture (beds, desks, dressers), but the items are looking damaged or dated, consider the option of refinishing/refurbishing the furniture. This option may be more affordable than wholesale replacement and is a more environmentally sustainable option as you do not have to manage donation or disposal of furniture. Keep in mind that this work may not be able to be done on site and may require labor to remove and reinstall the furniture.

2.       If budgetary constraints will not allow for the replacement of the entire building’s furnishings, consider how the furniture replacement could be phased over time, by wing/floor/complex. Keep in mind that partial replacement projects may lead to student complaints about inequity, so consider how best to make these types of projects work with your student community. If your building is mixed population, consider placing the new furniture on the upper-class floors, as they will have less of a chance to enjoy the new items before they move to the next housing type, or graduate.

3.       Refreshing lounge or lobby furnishings is another great option for reinvigorating your building/community. If replacement is not feasible, check your furniture records, or verify with the furniture manufacturer to see if your existing lounge pieces may be able to be reupholstered.

4.       Upgrading or adding new amenities like a dining table or chairs, or soft seating in unit can provide savings to students in not having to purchase and bring additional items into the unit. Reducing student owned furniture in the unit can make your move-in/out processes smoother and prevent some wear on your building elevators.

5.       Where feasible, the best option for furniture replacement is to package the furniture project with needed deferred maintenance or renovation projects.

If you have an opportunity to upgrade furniture, seek student feedback. Ask for their help in the selection of furniture by bringing sample items for students to try out, touch, or sit in. Any furniture company seeking your business will be willing to provide samples. Offer opportunities for resident assistants or residence hall association to review plans and furniture specs. Student feedback on the front end of the project, as well as clear marketing of the finished project on the back end of the work can also help to build anticipation and excitement about the project.

As you move forward with new furniture orders, collaborate closely with your supplier to understand any supply chain issues you may encounter. Do not donate or dispose of old items until you have delivery dates confirmed and items confirmed as complete. Plan longer lead times to ensure timely arrival of product. Be flexible regarding fabric choices as you may experience limitations in available stock. Stay in regular communication with your furniture sales representative.

And do not hesitate to seek the help of an experience and qualified consultant, if you need assistance with:

·         A facilities assessment (including FFE condition)

·         Coordination of long-term furniture agreements to ensure best pricing

·         Furniture refurbishment

·         Facilitation of furniture selection and procurement

·         Furniture recycling or donation

·         On site project management of installation of new furniture

Schedule a call with me to discuss your project needs, by clicking here: https://calendly.com/jennifer-893/consultation-call