“Kindergarten” 1885 Johann Sperl
Today at the usual hour we examine recent case studies of residential building projects that support family formation.
University of Santa Cruz: New child care center, student housing
University of Kentucky: Graduate and Family Housing
University of Utah: Sunnyside Apartments – Family and Graduate Housing
University of Colorado Boulder: Graduate and Family Housing
Student parents, who often face high rates of housing and food insecurity, stable family housing reduces commuting burdens, fosters a supportive community with amenities like childcare access or playgrounds, and significantly improves retention, academic performance, and graduation rates. For faculty, affordable on-campus options help recruit and retain top scholars in high-cost areas, humanize interactions (e.g., via faculty-in-residence models), and build stronger campus communities.
Construction and maintenance of family-sized units (apartments/houses) are expensive, requiring substantial investment amid limited budgets. Demand often exceeds supply, leading to long waitlists. Units must meet family-specific needs (safety, space, year-round availability), differing from standard dorms, while navigating zoning, liability, and community integration issues. In tight housing markets, it can strain local resources or face resistance in activist communities college towns are known for.
In some cases reducing the bells and whistles on new sport stadiums could reduce initial cost of operations and maintenance. Siting them closer to the student health clinic and a large pool of babysitters could help young families and young men and women seeking partners to start families.
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