Poll current students. Increase the likelihood that students are pleased with their new housing option by gathering opinions from them prior to planning. Poll students on everything from floor plan to amenities. While you may not opt to do everything they prefer, it is advantageous to know what they like prior to beginning your plans.
Ensure ADA compliance and accessibility. The Americans with Disabilities Act dictates that all public buildings must be handicap accessible. Plan for elevators or ramps to ensure that your structure remains in compliance.
Determine the capacity of each room. You can plan for rooms that are all the same size and intended to hold the same number of residents, or you can create several different sizes of rooms within your facility.
Make the most out of your space. Student housing is commonly cramped. To avoid a crowded feel, design an open floor plan. One large room feels significantly more spacious than several small ones. Use walls to divide space only when absolutely necessary to make the accommodations feel more spacious.
Use natural light whenever possible. By planning lots of windows you can likely decrease the future residents' dependence on electrical energy for lighting. If the windows are energy efficient, they will keep the heat in while still letting in the light.
Pick a bathroom layout. Decide whether each room will have its own bathroom, as is uncommon in student housing, or if instead students will share a common bath.
Plan for technology. Include a computer lab and media center in your design. Also, include an Internet and cable hook-up in each room. Even if the school does not intend to provide these services initially, having the hook-ups installed will save a significant amount of money if they elect to offer the services down the line.
Create common space. Leave open space in the bottom floor of the student housing facility so that residents can mix and mingle. Schools commonly place pool tables and Foosball tables in these areas, allowing for relaxing breaks from strenuous study.