Rethinking the Future of Student Housing

Student housing used to be thought of as an ephemeral part of young adulthood – an in between space for the next big thing – your own apartment! But today’s students require more than just dormitories. Their needs for the built environment have evolved, with privacy and community living side by side.

At Rize, our approach to design is rooted in curiosity. We are also students – discovering new projects and learning new philosophies that we can bring home. Our team regularly explores different cities to visit aspirational buildings and collate best practices that we can implement in our projects.

In our visits to various student residence buildings across Canada and the US, one thing stood out: the residences didn’t feel institutional.

While traditional thinking might have assumed the worst of student tenants, and designed with indestructability in mind, these built environments were creative and thoughtfully designed. And they received reciprocal care from the residents themselves.

Designing for the Modern Student

We believe great design should be accessible at every stage of life. At Koto, our student housing project at SFU UniverCity, we worked with RWA Group Architecture and interior design firm Ste Marie to bring a fresh and bold vision to Burnaby Mountain. We wanted a design-forward community where student life unfolds with energy and intention—and where lifelong connections are made.

We partnered with Article to furnish all 283 bedrooms, ensuring that daily touch points display a cohesive Scandi sensibility that feels welcoming, balanced and full of charm. From stylish kitchen and bathroom finishes to shades of blues in a variety of placements, the Koto identity is woven into every aspect of the building.

Koto’s lease structure is also conducive to student life, with one-to-three-year leases as well as all-inclusive rates that include air conditioning, all utilities, in-suite laundry, and WiFi throughout the property. We know how stressful the start of semester can be and our goal is to create student housing that is ready for day-one living.

Contemporary Room Configurations

With more expectations of privacy, student housing projects have prioritized single-occupancy rooms with shared kitchens and living areas with roommates. A shift from the days of having two single beds in a rectangular room with a hall bathroom.

From studios, 1-beds to 3-bed units, layouts balance this need for privacy and connection. Shared residences have spacious kitchens with flexible dining areas for residents, and dens that can used for storage or made into another study area.

Thoughtfully designed student-housing is about giving students a true sense of home for their formative years. Ensuring that each resident not only thrives in their academic life, but also lets them develops their own rhythm, and opportunities to build community.

Supporting Student Well-Being with Shared Amenities

When we spoke to a student on what it takes to build community in a residence building, the answer was simple:

most students want to connect, they just need the right spaces to make it happen.

In designing Koto, our team focused on creating shared spaces that let connection and community take shape organically.

Residents have access to a range of amenities curated for student life. Koto’s indoor social lounges feature a communal kitchen, a foosball table, and multiple gathering spaces where residents can connect, relax, and build friendships. Instead of making the trek to the SFU gym, residents have 24/7 access to a well-rounded wellness and fitness area along with secure bike storage with a repair room for avid cyclists.

These amenities are connected to a large outdoor patio that overlooks Burnaby’s forested landscape, offering a much-needed respite for those who need it, and becoming a central hub for social gatherings part of Koto’s resident social programming.

A Shared Future

The transition to university life is one of the most significant in a young person’s journey. At Koto, we built each home with care and thoughtful intention resulting in a student housing project that is functional, accessible, and beautiful.

We wanted to meet students where they are in their lives, creating the right mix of private and shared areas in each home with amenity spaces that can accommodate both private study time and group celebrations. As student live evolves, so do we.

Ready to move in? Book a tour here.