Our Higher Education designers share why they’re excited about the future of student housing – from rising global demand to an increasing desirer for sustainable design – and what they enjoy most about their work.

Ankrom Moisan’s Student Housing Team (From left to right, starting in the back row: Jason Jones, Jenna Mogstad, Matt Janssen. Front row: Cindy Schaumberg, Alex Kuzmin, Mackenzie Snyder, Zach Stofferahn, Sydney Ellison)

Jenna Mogstad

4 Years

Associate Interior Designer

What do you like best about designing student housing?

I love it because it’s FUN. Student housing is invigorating and creative, with really unique requirements and programs to consider. Designing spaces that inspire and cater to young adults and users that are in such a formative stage of their life is really rewarding.

What has excited you about future work in this sector?

I’m most excited about incorporating trauma-informed design principals into student housing and higher education projects. Creating safe and non-triggering spaces for users from every possible background is something I take very seriously. We need to ensure that this population can thrive and be successful, for the future of us all.

What interesting changes have you seen in this sector over the years?

Since I graduated college in 2017, I’ve seen a big shift in the level of amenities that are provided in student housing. Each new project seems to just get better and better in terms of the activities and spaces that students are offered – right in their homes. Bars, theaters, spas, fitness, you name it. There’s a whole new level of approachable luxury that didn’t exist even just a short time ago when I was a student. It’s really exciting to see!

Mackenzie Snyder

1 Year

Interior Designer

What do you like best about designing student housing?

There are endless possibilities to be creative through finishes (fun colors, patterns, textures, etc.) and functions of a space (feature stairs with integrated seating, rock climbing walls and fun fitness zones, variations in study areas, etc.).

What has excited you about future work in this sector?

I like that this sector will always give us the opportunity to help create environments that help young students feel comfortable in the process of moving away from home and going through formative new steps in their life. The fact that design can help make that transition smooth is something that will never change, even as other trends do.

Is there anything that makes you uniquely suited to working in this sector?

I’m the youngest on the team and therefore the most recently out of college. I think because of that I can bring a unique perspective. I’m close to the current generation of students and can see firsthand how they tend to interact int heir college environments. That can be very useful.

Sydney Ellison, Jason Jones, Cindy Schaumberg, and Matt Janssen at a design charette.

Zach Stofferahn

3 Years

Job Captain

What do you like best about designing student housing?

Student housing has a much bigger focus on communal spaces than a typical multi-family project.

What has excited you about future work in this sector?

I have seen several student surveys indicating sustainability is important to students today. We are always looking for ways to incorporate sustainable features into our buildings, so it is exciting to work with a user group that shares that value. I am hopeful that as students continue to seek those features, our design solutions can become more and more bullish on sustainability.

What’s uniquely challenging about designing student housing?

Schedule is important on all projects, but in student housing even more so because it is so critical to align building completion with the academic calendar. Pushing the schedule is typically not an option.

Sydney Ellison

6 Years

Interior Designer

What do you like best about designing student housing?

Getting to be very playful with our designs.

What has excited you about future work in this sector?

I’m excited by the increasing focus on mental health and wellness being integrated into off-campus housing.

What inspires you?

Our higher-ed team is inspiring; we have a great dynamic and collaborative environment.

The team embraces their silly side.

Alex Kuzmin

3 Years

Technical Designer, Project Architect

What do you like best about designing student housing?

There are unique opportunities to be creative that don’t present themselves in other market sectors. I enjoy striking that delicate balance with budget and client expectations.

What has excited you about future work in this sector?

Rising global demand. With a projected 594 million higher education students by 2040, our studio is uniquely positioned to capitalize in this market sector with our experience and specialized knowledge base.

What’s uniquely challenging about designing student housing?

Designing student housing is uniquely challenging because you need to strike a balance when considering functional, flexible spaces with the design of an engaging, communal environment that supports both academic and social development.

Want to get to know the Higher Education Studio leaders? Hear from Cindy Schaumburg and Jason Jones here. Hear from Matt Janssen and Alissa Brandt here.