JoAnn Blaylock

Grand Campus Living

By Leah Etling on Mar 17, 2014 in People

Student housing is undergoing a total transformation. That drab, boring dorm room you once bunked in? It’s probably being bulldozed as we speak.

In its place will be something closer to the amenity-filled new developments that are springing up to feed the desires of Millennial renters, who are getting their ideas about what makes ideal apartment living in the same place they’re getting their higher education – at college.

MHN spoke with JoAnn Blaylock, Senior Vice President at Grand Campus Living, a division of Lincoln Property Company. Blaylock has been a leader in the private student housing industry as it has transformed into a vibrant and trend-setting sector of multifamily, and she shared her thoughts on the ongoing evolution.

MHN: What are the newest housing features or amenities that you’re adding to student communities today that might not have been common in the past?

Blaylock: Students today – Millennials – have very busy schedules, and are accustomed to having things at their fingertips, at any time.  Therefore, amenities that offer 24/7 access allow for the students to maintain their active daily lives without ever having to leave the community.   Fitness centers with on demand fitness classes, TRX workout systems, well programmed interactive study and multipurpose rooms with Smart TVs are just some of the amenities that fulfill the students’ physical and academic needs.  College students are also a very socially active group, making large gathering places, such as H2O decks, infinity pools, and outdoor/club lounge spaces very popular with today’s student, while resident events hosted in the spaces help build a necessary sense of community.

MHN: Many of your student properties are in the south and southwest. Do you identify any regional trend lines in the way student housing is developed?

Blaylock: The trend in establishing brand awareness within each market is beginning much earlier than we have seen in previous years.  Grand Campus Living began actively establishing the community brand at all of our new lease ups in June and July.  This has enabled the communities to begin creating relationships with the University organizations, Sororities and Fraternities as well as the University Housing Offices and maximize these important relationships as we introduce a new product to the students.  The results have been earlier leasing and the ability to create leasing momentum and positive word of mouth.

MHN: Grand Campus Living was the recipient of a 2013 “Innovator Award” from Student Housing Business. Tell me about the project that you were recognized for and how it is innovative?

Blaylock: The project was The Vue at Texas Christian University (TCU), which brought a new standard of luxury living to the students of TCU.  With only .8 acres of land to utilize, architectural and construction precision were used in order to accommodate  a  five story building that included 56 suites, a high-end retail space and a two and a half story parking garage.  Additional care was focused on making sure the suites were modernized with a sustainable edge.  Double pane energy efficient windows, increased insulation under the floor and in between walls was used to minimize noise and conserve energy, and the addition of electric car charging stations help align The Vue with the student’s vision of both efficiency and sustainability.  The project easily distinguished itself in the market by offering an urban oasis featuring an H20 deck with outdoor gathering areas, rooftop lounge with large flat screen TVs all exceeded the expectations of our customers.

MHN: If you could time travel, which one of your Grand Campus communities would you most want to live at while being in college and why?

Blaylock: I grew up in Denton and attended the University of North Texas (UNT).  If I could time travel back to my college years, besides having fewer wrinkles, I would want to live at a community that offered high end amenities, but more importantly social activities where I could meet my neighbors and be engaged in university life.  So, I would choose to live at 33 North in Denton, Texas.  The community is located within walking distance to campus and offers interior amenities that that are sleek, well designed and has a fantastic furniture package.  Also, 33 North perfectly captures the “cool” vibe of UNT and the city of Denton.  The social areas and the fitness center create a sense of community where the residents gather and socialize creating a college experience that is very desirable.

Read the rest of the interview on Multi-Housing News