Looking at the ever-changing needs for amenity spaces, the National Apartment Association (NAA) asked apartment owners and operators which features were most important in communal spaces, electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, fitness centers, package rooms, and coworking spaces.
For new construction, security in package rooms was the top feature (78.9%), followed by technology/connectivity (45.9%) and equipment (21.1%). In community spaces, 83.5% of respondents named equipment/furniture as a top feature, and, in fitness centers, 95.4% said state-of-the-art equipment was key with technology/connectivity following close behind.
Understandably, in coworking spaces, technology/connectivity topped the feature list with equipment/furniture in second. The report found that residents value the functionality of these spaces over physical size, but the addition of work pods or private areas were top suggestions.
Outdoors in EV charging areas, technology/connectivity (77.1%) and equipment (74.3%) were also top picks. Like fitness centers, these two features reflect the integrated nature for the amenity, NAA points out. Security (17.4%) was less of a concern for EV charging areas.
When looking at recent changes or upgrades to existing properties, upgraded equipment in fitness centers was a top focus (64.1%). While many participants did not report any adjustments to amenity spaces, fitness center upgrades were the only exception. The most common upgrade across all amenity spaces was equipment/furniture.
In package rooms, however, equipment and security upgrades (17.3%) were the least reported for existing communities, while the most common was technology (18.4%). In coworking spaces (26.8%) and communal areas (21.2%), technology/connectivity improvements were the second top upgrade.
Technological upgrades were less noted among existing EV charging areas (17.3%) and fitness centers (16.2%). “This stark difference in prioritizing technology in fitness centers in new construction highlights just one of the challenges of older properties remaining competitive on the amenity front,” the report reads.
In addition to technology and equipment upgrades, respondents also listed revamped flooring, painting, flex work spaces, smart lockers, golf simulators, and an increased variety of options in community spaces.
