Luxury High Rise Amenities and Building Amenity Trends

During the height of the pandemic, everyone spend more time indoors. This resulted in a paradigm shift in what people wanted and expected from their homes. Residents of high-rise buildings may have accepted basic amenities before the pandemic, but expectations have changed since then. As a result, many high-rise communities are emulating the hotel industry, offering amenities similar to what you would find at a five-star hotel.

Residents choose high-rise living to enjoy their dramatic views, trendy features, and convenient locations near entertainment and business centers. But residents of luxury buildings want even more now.  As a board member of a luxury high-rise, it's imperative that you stay on top of lifestyle and amenity trends so your building meets the needs and wants of current and future residents, keeping it relevant and desirable, driving demand - and property values.

Read on to learn what you need to know about amenity trends in luxury high-rise buildings.

Ambiance

Your community's ambiance plays an important role in a hyper-competitive housing market. It impacts your residents' experience from the moment they arrive at the property. The atmosphere and ambiance of your property could either attract or deter future residents. The driveway, the building's façade, the property's signage ­­– all make an impression before someone even enters the building. Lighting, music, fragrance, and décor can all be effective ways to impact their experience once they arrive. The first impression residents get stepping into a luxury high-rise set the tone for the rest of their stay.

Together with your board, your property management company can help create the perfect ambiance for your building. “As industry leaders, we are the most advanced when it comes to emulating a full-service hotel experience, since many of our team members have an extensive background in hospitality,” said Landy Labadie, vice president of community solutions for FirstService Residential. “We understand that a high level of service enhances our residents’ experience.”

Dining Options

Residents' demand for on-site food and beverage options has increased in recent years. Depending on the residents’ preferences, these can range from a barista station, a grab-and-go market, a gourmet restaurant, and even room service. Buildings are offering apps that allow residents to order food and beverages with their smartphones, making the ordering process easier.

Board members should be aware of residents' preferences. Property management companies should provide you with the resources and tools to measure resident needs and provide food and beverage solutions that meet those needs, elevating the resident experience and even generating revenue.

Looking to leverage your community’s existing amenities to create revenue? Read: 5 Creative Ways to Create Revenue With Your Community

Pet-Friendly Spaces   

Caring for your residents' dogs and cats isn't just a trend. Most people consider their pets family members and treat them as such. To attract and keep pet lovers, a growing number of communities are offering pet-friendly amenities. A strong pet program is essential for lifestyle-oriented high-rises. It can include everything from pet spas and training classes to pet washing stations and even fully equipped dog parks.

Boards should assess their resident needs and pet population to determine the best solutions for their community.

Community Programming and Events

Residents participate in events to get to know each other and socialize. The “living room experience,” which refers to a common area in the building where residents can enjoy events while mixing and mingling with other residents, is a perfect example of community programming. Resident-centered events, such as holidays, watch parties, and special-interest clubs, all help foster a sense of community.

“We think about the needs of our residents, ensuring that we have options to fit every demographic, from parents with small children to single residents and those with partners and spouses; we expertly curate lifestyle amenities for every group,” said Mindy Anderson, director of lifestyle at FirstService Residential. “Our structure supports property lifestyle directors in producing unique events and activities for everyone in our communities.”

Health, Fitness and Wellness

At the height of the pandemic, outdoor spaces within high-rises became more popular, allowing residents to remain active outside since most indoor gyms were closed. Today, state-of-the-art fitness centers and apps are trending as the pandemic wanes and people gather together again. Apps like FitnessOnDemand™ allow residents to get together virtually to exercise in the privacy of their own homes.

"Whether it's a swimming class or a Zumba class, fostering the feeling of community is an important way to help create a sense of well-being for our high-rise building residents," said Anderson.
A good professional property management company will work with your board to choose the best wellness program for your community.

Technology

Residents are increasingly shopping and ordering goods online, and this trend is spreading to high-rise buildings, too. Luxury high-rise communities may need to adapt by developing user-friendly and innovative solutions. For example, access control, the method which allows residents and their guests to enter areas of their property, is evolving to a more digital space using advanced technology.

“We're starting to see a lot in technology with artificial intelligence,” said Labadie. “For example, as you pull into your high-rise, the security camera may use facial recognition to grant property access. This type of technology allows residents to have a better experience.”

A property management company with a team of app and web developers can help you develop innovative solutions for residents that will enhance your community’s brand and help you stay on top of the latest trends.

Kids’ Amenity Spaces

Luxury buildings offer kids' amenity spaces and clubs to appeal to families with children, allowing them to play and be active and creative. High-rise residents with limited indoor space and no back yards where their children can play may find clubhouses and all-purpose rooms attractive. Many buildings offer arts and crafts classes, games, sports and camp-like programming. Communities can enhance their reputation as a place where young families can grow and thrive by investing in kids' clubs.

Concierge-Level Service  

Remember that exceptional service, including the attentiveness of your high-rise staff, can be your best amenity. A professional property management company can assist your association with hiring the right people, and properly training them to ensure that your luxury high-rise building has the best staff suited to deliver a service level that meet the expectations of your residents.   

Sports Programs

Once thought to be exclusive to homeowners associations, sports facilities in high-rises are a growing trend, perhaps a little differently than in single-family home communities but still offering residents recreational opportunities to interact with one another. Sports programs in high-rises include indoor basketball, racquetball, tennis courts and even golf (often in the form of a simulator, allowing residents to practice their strokes in a virtual golf environment). Sports programs can also feature swimming competitions or resident tournaments.

It can be challenging for boards to stay on top of the latest amenity trends, but partnering with an experienced management company can ease the burden. The right company will have its finger on the pulse of the latest lifestyle and amenity trends, and can help you bring the right ones to your community.

To find out more about how your community can implement the latest amenity and lifestyle trends, contact FirstService Residential, North America’s leading property management company.