Once, renters were satisfied with simple swimming pools and exercise rooms at apartment communities. No longer. Volleyball courts, putting ranges, and outdated clubhouses have made their way onto the list of underutilized apartment amenities. The multifamily industry has recognized this trend and responded with a host of new amenties—whether in the form of a social event like and outdoor wine tasting, or a dog grooming studio on site at your pet-friendly community, or a decked-out rooftop terrace with the best view in the city (like these featured here. Residents now want to spend time outside their units in the most compelling spaces possible.
Amenities have grown in popularity so much over the past decade that renters will opt for smaller units (like these Gen Y-focused Los Angeles lofts) if they feel they can make up for the loss of personal space by spending time using well-designed community spaces.
We’ve rounded up some of our past coverage of the best amenities offered at communities around the country. If your property has an outstanding amenity similar to the ones featured below, make sure to enter into the 2016 Multifamily Executive Awards. This year, we’ve added a new “Best Amenity” category to highlight the features that add something special to apartment living and honor companies that go above and beyond to meet their resident's lifestyle needs.
Fuse Cambridge Brings Nature Indoors With a Living Green Wall
The collection of wall-mounted plants infuses numerous aesthetic, health, and sustainability benefits in the lobby of the Massachusetts property.
Riding High: Bicycle-centric Properties Win Residents
A growing focus on green, urban living has more tenants looking for communities that offer more than a standard bike rack.
D.C. Apartment Complex Serves Fresh Food Aficionados
Station House, Roseland's new apartment building in Washington, D.C., is catering to fresh-food aficionados by bringing the grow-it-yourself movement to the city. New York–based developer Fisher Brothers put the emphasis on food activities, with a community garden atop one roof, a 20-foot-long harvest table for produce to be set out, and a demonstration and tasting kitchen where area chefs can show off their skills for tenants.
A Green Roof Goes Above and Beyond at 10 Montieth
The mixed-use building in New York, designed by architecture firm ODA New York and developed by Rabsky Group, offers residents over 44,000 square feet of landscaped space. At the heart of the 379,675-square-foot building is a 19,000-square-foot courtyard featuring a fire pit, terraced area, amphitheater, dog run, and park space. Just beyond lies an additional 9,400 square feet of interior recreational space, providing a rock-climbing wall, bike storage, café, lounges, library, gym, and work/study areas.
A Meta Housing Community in Orange County Activates the Active Adult
Cotton’s Point senior apartments incorporate unique amenities, such as creative programs for art and theater, language classes, and fitness courses, to create this affordable, active-adult community.
7 Ways to Take Your Clubhouse From Bland to Brilliant
If your amenity space is in need of an update, here's some insight from MP Studio designers on how to make community areas modern and attractive, gained from a recent clubhouse renovation.
3 Key Technology Amenities to Remain Competitive
As the development pipeline continues to deliver high-end luxury units, many older communities may find themselves in need of a tech upgrade to remain competitive. The following capabilities, or lack thereof, could make or break your prospective tenant’s decision to sign the lease.
Taking Pet-Friendly to a New Level
After quickly realizing that grooming stations were among the most-used amenities in its other properties, Related decided to go all-out with a dog spa in its New York MiMA property. At Dog City, residents can find just about anything their pets ever dreamed of, including an indoor play area, outdoor pool, play dates and doggie yoga.
Head of the Class: 5 Key Student Housing Amenities
Developers have turned toward enhancing their amenities and improving the ‘lifestyle’ of their residences with amenities such as virtual golf installations, lazy rivers, jumbotrons, and decked-out fitness rooms. Here are five key ways student housing developers are getting a leg up on their competition.
