Submitted by angela.barker on
June 19, 2026
AC Martin Hosts ULI Los Angeles Student Housing Panel
On June 18, AC Martin welcomed industry leaders to our downtown Los Angeles office for ULI Los Angeles’ StimULI: Student Housing event. The panel explored innovative approaches to addressing the growing need for affordable on-campus housing and its important role in supporting student success and retention.
Moderated by AC Martin Principal Niccolo Boldrin, AIA, DBIA, the discussion featured Candace Jones of Long Beach City College, David Cramp of Swinerton, Aejin (AJ) Y. of Volz Company, and Raoul Amescua of The Michaels Organization. Drawing on perspectives from higher education, development, design, and construction, the panel discussed how colleges, universities, and private-sector partners can collaborate to finance, build, and operate student housing.
Topics included planning housing for community college campuses without existing residential facilities or an established baseline, including what colleges should anticipate and what students can expect regarding costs. The panelists also examined how first-time community college housing budgets align with development realities and, from a private developer’s perspective, what colleges must demonstrate to attract capital.
The conversation extended beyond planning and construction to the long-term operational impacts of student housing. Once housing opens, a campus becomes a 24/7 operation requiring additional staffing, services, security, maintenance, and other operational support. Throughout the discussion, the panel emphasized that colleges, developers, designers, builders, and operators must work together toward a shared goal: supporting student success.
