Toll Brothers Campus Living, the student housing development division of home builder Toll Brothers, has created an elevated experience for students near Penn State in State College. The first phase of The Yards at Old State features 70 individual yardhouses with 279 bedrooms and a standalone clubhouse.
Instead of a standard residential apartment community, the yardhouses are multiple-bedroom townhomes outfitted with refined materials and furnishings. Fully furnished, each yardhouse includes a smart TV, included Wi-Fi and cable, quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances, and full-size washers and dryers.
According to the developer, The Yards at Old State speaks to the “energetic, adventurous, and ambitious qualities” of its target market—Generation Z—providing students with the chance to be alone or engage with the community.
The centrally located 24-hour clubhouse offers students quiet space to study or work on group projects in private rooms with smart boards, computers, and unlimited printing. Two separate bar areas provide bottomless coffee and seltzer. Lower-level lounge spaces are the perfect spot for college game day viewing and video games, while the 3,900-square-foot fitness center has cardio machines connected to the internet and TV, a free weight section, and an immersive fitness area for on-demand classes. Additional amenities include a half-court basketball court, a rock-climbing wall, a sauna, and a spray-tan booth. Outside, students have access to a resort-style pool, three hot tubs, in-pool lounge seating, grills, fire pits, and hammocks.
Architect BKV Group made intentional design selections to incorporate materials and palettes that reflect both the qualities of Penn State and the surrounding landscapes of the Rothrock and Bald Eagle state forests. Two distinct living wall systems in the clubhouse pay an homage to the outdoors and add a clean and refreshing ambiance. Throughout the building, clean lines and natural materials also are complemented by bold areas of color and branded graphics.
A second phase of The Yards at Old State delivered this past summer with an additional 198 units and 814 bedrooms.
