NEWS
Innovation can
produce affordable student housing
By John Schooling , director , STAG African
South Africa is facing a chronic student housing
shortage . While universities across the country search for ways to provide affordable accommodation , preconceived ideas about what student housing should cost is preventing major advancements .
To ensure the next generation of students is adequately provided for , it is vital for universities and developers to change the way they think about student housing – this starts with the cost .
The Department of Education has acknowledged that at least 300 000 beds are required to accommodate the nation ’ s students . Lack of accommodation has been directly linked to higher failure and dropout rates for first-year students . Affordable , quality student accommodation is critical for the success of not only individual students , but the country as a whole . This is a crisis of affordability , which can in part be addressed by reducing the cost of providing a student bed .
Current pricing to build student housing on campus is estimated at R320 000 per bed , which can increase to R550 000 when taking land costs into account . While this figure is not wrong , it is excessively high . This amount can be reduced by examining the cost of each line item involved in the development of student housing – including material costs , construction costs , professional fees , and the cost of money – and asking how they be reduced without compromising on quality . Overall , our research has shown that the cost of building new housing can be brought down to as low as R260 000 per bed .
The first – and easiest – step to achieve affordability is through optimal architectural design . This means designing student housing exactly in accordance with the Department of Higher Education and Training ’ s minimum norms and standards , without creating any dead areas or wasted spaces . Sustainable , energy-efficient design elements , including solar panels , grey water systems and energy-saving LED bulbs , can also help to reduce operational costs and environmental impact .
The use of Innovative Building Technologies ( IBTs ) can reduce the cost of building materials by 10 %. IBT is a green alternative to bricks and mortar buildings that uses lightweight steel structures , manufactured off-site . This cuts on-site building time by up to 30 %, as the construction team is only assembling pre-made components , instead of building from scratch .
Our patent pod design , which houses eight students per pod , is designed with quality and affordability in mind . Every component of the pods , from light switches and window fixtures to floor and wall designs , has been designed onceoff in-house . This approach saves time for architects and engineers , who only need to implement exiting elements , instead of designing new components per project . By limiting personal interactions , the pods are also pandemic proof – ensuring that they can stay inhabited and operational even during uncertain times .
With the completion of a 2 047-bed student village at the University of Fort Hare – the largest student accommodation development ever undertaken by a South African university – and the greenest residence in Africa at Stellenbosch University ’ s Tygerberg campus , STAG African has demonstrated that it is possible to develop affordable student housing that is also world-class .
Nkosi Johnson House , Stellenbosch .
STAG AFRICAN www . saaffordablehousing . co . za MARCH - APRIL 2021 3