ATLANTA, Georgia —The Atlanta studio of Perkins&Will, in collaboration with the Georgia Institute of Technology, has begun planning an all-new residential life experience for students on Georgia Tech’s campus. The housing master plan, as it’s called, will lay the foundation for expanded residential accommodations and amenities—a goal university leaders hope to realize within the next 10 years.
“There’s no better time than now to set the guiding principles for a transformative project like Georgia Tech’s housing master plan,” said John Poelker, principal at Perkins&Will. “The work done today will be a catalyst and changemaker for the way students experience life on campus in the years to come.”
The master plan will highlight the integration of wellness into the residential community and intends on making affordability the forefront of the discussion. The process will work to put Georgia Tech’s community members at the center of the process, welcoming student engagement and building stakeholder consensus. Specifically, participants will explore potential expansions at Tech Square, 150 North Avenue, and the site at the intersection of Northside Drive and 10th Street.
Addressing Tomorrow’s Housing Needs, Now
Georgia Tech is at a pivotal point in the school’s trajectory. As a result of the explosive growth, in and around the university’s campus, there is an immediate need to evaluate the future of campus housing. Surrounded by an unprecedented amount of private development, coupled with a steady increase in enrollment and the need of students to be centrally located in an urban environment, Georgia Tech seeks to establish itself as the first choice for student housing.
Kasey Helton, the Associate Vice President of Campus Services at Georgia Tech said, “The opportunity to assess, evaluate and thoroughly meet the needs of our changing students will help Georgia Tech’s residential life become the new standard for on-campus living.”
In relation to the campus’ proximity to Midtown, Atlanta’s fastest growing neighborhood in the last decade, the team will look to current market trends and data to guide the process and action items for the team and stakeholders. When completed in late summer, the housing master plan will provide a framework for creating residential spaces that meet the needs of the 32,700 Georgia Tech students.
