Our annual flagship event, The Class Conference, is the biggest student housing conference in Europe. Throughout the day, student housing players, city leadership, and the higher education community come together to discuss the latest trends, celebrate achievements, exchange ideas, and broaden their networks. Together we shape the future of student living, working, and learning in Europe.
The past decade can be considered nothing less than a miraculous one in human innovation. More ideas and products have been realised than any decade before, with greater flows of people, goods, and services between cities, countries, and continents. In this new, global world order, life goals and work preferences are changing too. It is impossible to ignore the changing role of cities and the pivotal importance of universities and knowledge institutions. Urban living increasingly is characterized by transience and inclination to constant change. Human capital and talent attraction are the driving force behind urban advancement in a competitive order of global cities. The fast changes in modern society are turning our lives in a permanent stage of becoming, and increasingly blurring the environment around us. At The Class of 2020, we have been investigating the future of urban living, working and learning for a footloose generation of international talent. The recognition of the co-revolution being a natural progression for the student living sector inspires us to explore all the blends young people encounter in their living experience. While physical realities meet virtual spaces; the European market is witnessing both an institutionalization and a blurring of PBSA as asset class, embracing innovative lifestyle-specific and hospitality-driven living products. The urban campus is the ultimate mash-up of higher education and novel ways of working and living together. Digitalization is disrupting our perception and experience of space and creates learning ecosystems beyond proximity. We enjoyed exploring these topics together with you and 800 other thought leaders in real estate investment, development and operations, international higher education, and city leadership.
With almost 20 panel discussions throughout the day held on three stages simultaneously, The Class Conference 2019 clustered multiple approaches to all the above challenges and opportunities into seven key takeaways:
Community is key
Each residential community is unique in its needs, wants, and demands.
To emphasize this point, the industry needs to stop thinking of generational groups as homogenous with the same needs and wants – alternatively, effective housing solutions will consider the mindset of residents, no matter what age group they fall under.
Operators are putting people first when it comes to community building. They are understanding the importance of activating space and community by empowering residents within it to share their own unique interests and connect with each other.
Affordability is demanded across the urban living sector
Housing affordability is a major issue for global cities. On The Moment for Coliving is Now panel, affordability was highlighted as the main appeal for prospective residents. To combat the affordability challenge, developers can consider new construction techniques, such as prefabrication to save on building costs and speed up the building process.
Operators can rethink their approach to amenities and luxury offerings. Based on resident feedback in coliving spaces, affordability trumps amenities. Varied opt-in/out options can also include more affordable choices for residents.
The value of branding
In tomorrow’s generation of global citizens, experience will continue to be valued over ownership. In addition to visually pleasing environments, residents are making more conscious decisions about company ethos when selecting their accommodation. Companies that are transparent with their offerings are more attractive to potential residents.
The added value of branding for investors remains marginal while portfolios sit relatively small in the continental market; however, given the projections shared at the conference, we can expect branding to become increasingly important as portfolios grow.
Reform outdated policies
Planning is lagging market trends nearly everywhere. Reforming building regulations based on historic precedents will enable innovative design to be approved – smaller, well-designed spaces with communal areas will help to increase density. However, planning also needs to continue to measure and control the quality of living environments to ensure the quality and sustainability of housing meets future demands.
Innovation and technology are driving building efficiency
Technology is not an add-on anymore but a full cycle driving force: from design and conceptualisation to construction and maintenance. In order to maximise the value of space, we need to be flexible and adaptable with design and embrace sustainability as a necessity. Smart technology can help us collect data and make data-informed decisions and enhance human experiences.
Learning is evolving to adapt to changing market demands
Learning pathways and higher education are changing rapidly. In the global knowledge economy, people need to reinvent themselves more than once in their career. Flexible learning pathways and tech enabled online learning will provide greater access to the skills needed to do so. This will require us to keep an open mind about what is meant by ‘campus,’ while keeping an eye on the technological and design needs of learning and living spaces.
Collaboration to shape the future of urban living
The Class Conference 2019 on Blended Living brought together around 700 urban innovators, educators, designers, real estate developers, operators and government officials. With an estimated 25 billion euros of current and future investment in blended living typologies onsite, there is substantial opportunities to shape the real estate industry in a blended, collaborative and more flexible direction.
Aareal Bank AG
Absolute Internship SL
ACUHO-I
Adina Apartment Hotels
Airbnb
Allthings GmbH
ALTIDO
Amber Energy
Amro Real Estate Partners Limited
Aonyx
Apartmentservice
APG
Arlington Advisors Limited
ASK4
ASSA ABLOY AB
Asset Time Invest Limited
Astra Yapı ve İşletmeciliği A.Ş.
AtriumARE
AVEC Living
AXA Real Estate Investment Managers SA
Bain Capital
BaseCamp Student
BelForm
Bellier
Berlin Partner
Berlin TXL - Urban Tech Republic
Bloomberg
Blossity
Blue Noble
Blue Yonder Partnership Ltd
BlueStripe
BMW Mini
BONARD
Brookfield
bulwiengesa AG
Byggingafelag Namsmanna
CA Ventures
Caiazzo Donnini Pappalardo & Associati
Camplus
Campus Life
Campuskey (Pty) Ltd
CAMPUSX
Carrowmore Property (UK) Limited
Catella Investment
CB Micro Living GmbH
CBRE
Chapps
CHN Go Global
CIEE
Clancy Consulting Ltd
CMS
CO-LIVING ITALY SRL
Coliving Diaries
Collegiate AC Ltd
Conscious Coliving
Coventry University
CPPIB
Cresco Immobilien Verwaltungs GmbH
CRM Students Ltd
Crosslane Property Group
Crystal Facilities Management Ltd.
CUBO
Cushman & Wakefield
Cutwork
De Key
De Montfort Univerdity
Derwent FM
Deutsche Asset One GmbH
Deutsche Kreditbank AG
Deutsches Studentenwerk e.V.
Digital Ant s.r.o.
DOB Developments
Domatia
DOVEVIVO SPA
Dupuis Investment GmbH
DWS Real Estate GmbH
Edtech Lab - Imperial College London
EPDPL COLIVING OPERATIONS LLP
Equitix
Erasmus Student Network
ERKANLI YAPI YATIRIM A.Ş.
European Campus research project
European University College Association
Expatrio Global Services GmbH
Fairtree
Faydali Yazilim Isleri A.S. - Livinsoft
FIM Partners Ltd.
FLEXIPASS Keyless Mobile Access
FMEL
Fondazione IES ABROAD Italy
Forestay Properties Kft.
FORTA PREFAB SIA
FRED GCV
FUSION STUDENTS
Futurelets
Gent Holding S.A.
GIC
GISMA
Giuseppe Addamiano
Glide Student & Residential Ltd
Global Apartment Advisors
Global Student Accommodation
GNC co-living
Goldman Sachs
Gravity Co-living
Greystar
GSK STOCKMANN
GUS
GWJ
Haerzathe Investments
Harmondt
Harris Associates
Harrison Street
Hattington Capital
Hines
Hmlet
homefully GmbH
Homelike Internet GmbH
Horwath HTL Germany
Host
HousingAnywhere
HSBC Bak
Hydrodiseno Global
I Live Real Estate Services GmbH
I*ESN
IamExpat
IC Netherlands
Icelandic Student Services
IES Abroad
iLOQ Oy
In-Domus srl
Innovation Lighthouse
INTERBODEN Innovative Lebenswelten GmbH & Co. KG
International Campus Group
InterSpaceLiving
Invesco Real Estate
Invest Stockholm
Investec Bank PLC
IP Investment Managment
Ivanhoe Cambridge
JCRA
JLL
Kajima Properties (Europe) Ltd
Karlin Group Management
Karolinska Institutet Housing ab
Kaufman & Broad
Kinetic Solutions
Kings College London
KKR
KLEY
Kley Group
Kndrd.io
Knight Frank
KW-Development GmbH
Kyoto University
LAR2S
LARK Leisure Homes Sp. z o.o.
Lava Network S.L.
Lavanda
LCPP
Le Grand Reservoir
Livinsoft
LOFT
London Nest LTD
Londonist
Loyens & Loeff N.V.
Lyf by Ascott
m b advisor
Malmö University
Maureen McDermott Consulting
Meble VOX sp.z o.o.sp.k.
Medici / Quarters
Meiininger Hotels Limited
Milestone
MINI Living
MLP Finanzberatung SE
Modul Panel
Moses Mendelssohn Foundation
MP Direct Pty Ltd
MPC Micro Living Development GmbH
MTU TTU Student Campus
Naomi Cleaver Ltd
Navitas (Europe)
Negawatt Supply Company Ltd
NEXITY LAMY
Nexity Studea
Nido Student
Node
NREP
NSP Security
Nuveen Administration Limited
Odalys
OeAD student housing
Oikotrust SA
Orchid Investments
Osborne Clarke LLP
perspective.brussels
Petals Global
PKF hotelexperts
PRC
Primevest Capital Partners
Quares
Real Etc Ltd
RealPage
REOS GmbH
Republika Aparts
Residential Management Systems, Inc
Rīga Stradiņš University
Roam
Roggenkamp Immobilien Consulting
Ronesans Holding
ROOMHERO GmbH
Round Hill Capital
RTMLIVING srl
S.Q Italia srl
Salto Systems
Savills
Scape
Senatsverwaltung für Wirtschaft - Energie und Betriebe
Common
Sheppard Robson
SHG
Sodexo
Somali BoFED/UNICEF
South Point Management Services
Space & Pepper
SPACE m2 for smart living AB
Spotahome
SSSB
SSWZ Zürich
Steiner AG
Stengel Steel Concept
Stiftelsen AF Bostäder
Stiftelsen Stockholms studentbostäder
Student Experience Beheer BV
Student Mundial
Student Source
Student.com
Studentbostadsföretagen/NSBO
Studentkompanie Projektentwicklung GmbH
Studentroost
Studentsamskipnaden i Gjøvik, Ålesund og Trondheim
StudierenWerke Germany
Study Travel Magazine
Studyportals Analytics & Consulting Team
StudyTravel Ltd
Summix Capital
Super Positive Experience
Talent Garden
Taylor Wessing
TCAS Online
Technogym
Temprano Capital Partners, SL
The Ascott
The Business of Cities
The Collective
The PIE News
The Student Hotel
The University of Sheffield
The Welfare Council
theBASE
Tiger Developments Ltd
TigerLime Ltd
TLJ Security Systems
tp bennett
Traaseth Property Partners AS
TransferMate
U.hub
UBSBOLIG A/S
Uliving
Unilodgers
Union Investment Institutional Property GmbH
UNIPLACES
Unite Group plc
Universiteit van Amsterdam
University of Birmingham
University of Essex
University of Sheffield
University of Warwick
UPARTMENTS Real Estate GmbH
Upcircle
Upgrade Estate
Upscale Interiors AG
URBANIA REAL ESTATE ASSET MANAGEMENT S.L
Uría Menendez Abogados, S.L.P
Utelisys
Valeo Management Limited
Value One
Venn Opco Berlin GnbH
Vilnius university
VODI GmbH
Vonder Europe
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
W.P. Carey & Co Limited
Walker Modular
Washstation Limited
WeWash GmbH
WeWork
Winston Churchill Memorial Trust
Woonstichting De Key
WP Carey
Wifirst
Xior Student Housing
XU Exponential University of Applied Sciences
YUFE
Zeitraum s.r.o.
