Gen Alpha IS Coming — And Their Dorms Need a Redesign Now

December 4, 2025 — As a higher education professional, I’ve spent the past three decades working with institutions to rethink the spaces students call home. But the conversation we need to be having now isn’t about how many beds can fit in a building; it’s about whether those beds will meet the very particular needs of Gen Alpha, and whether the facilities that we’re designing today will continue to attract and relate to students five years from now.

Born between 2010 and 2024, Gen Alpha is already in high school. By the time they arrive on college campuses, they’ll be the first fully post-pandemic cohort. They’re digital natives raised on iPads, YouTube how-tos, and learning environments where attendance was virtual not in person. They’ve experienced isolation, burnout, and cultural whiplash. And their expectations of college, and campus housing in particular, are unlike anything we’ve seen before.

At the same time, colleges are heading toward a demographic cliff. According to the National Student Clearinghouse, undergraduate enrollment is projected to drop by 15% between 2025 and 2029. This isn’t a slow leak, it’s a structural shift. And it puts even more pressure on universities to differentiate, adapt, and meet students where they are — starting with where they live.

What Gen Alpha Wants (and Expects)
Let’s be clear: this generation isn’t just asking for faster Wi-Fi. They’re looking for residence halls that support how they live with built-in flexibility, digital integration, and spaces that support their social lives, identities, and mental health. That might mean content creation zones, podcast nooks, or gaming lounges built for connection. It definitely means intuitive, keyless access, app-based maintenance, and a digital infrastructure that works like the ones they’ve grown up with.

But Gen Alpha doesn’t just want high-tech dorms. They also crave authenticity and autonomy. They value privacy but not isolation. They want to control their space, not be crammed into outdated layouts. They want residence halls that reflect the culture of the campus and the local community not buildings that fail to reflect the people and place they’re meant to serve.

Alone Together
One unique and ever escalating phenomena first observed in Gen Z but firmly entrenched in Gen Alpha is their tendency to isolate themselves yet do so in a group setting. Long sofas, settees, and benches are giving way to high backed single chairs with deeper and deeper wings enabling their inhabitants to sink deeply into their own activity but be able to poke one’s head out periodically to experience the temporary comforts of togetherness.

Housing as a Recruiting Strategy
It’s time we stop treating housing like a logistical problem and start treating it as a strategic asset. In a shrinking market, the institutions that invest in experience-driven, tech-forward, and place-specific housing will be the ones that stand out especially as families play a larger role in the decision-making process.

We’re already seeing this shift. Campuses that embrace design as a differentiator, not just an operational requirement, are drawing students who want more than a place to sleep. They want a space to belong, to grow, and to connect.

Designing for What’s Next
The answer isn’t just to build more, it’s to build smarter. Right-sizing housing stock, renovating with flexibility in mind, and designing for evolving social behaviors are all critical. That might mean smaller community pods instead of long, impersonal hallways. It might mean multi-purpose lounges that can shift from study space to social hub without feeling like a compromise. And it absolutely means planning for tech infrastructure that won’t be obsolete before a student finishes their undergrad.

We also need to start designing for social development. Many Gen Alpha students will arrive on campus having missed critical social milestones during the pandemic. Their residence halls should help them reconnect not just with their peers, but with themselves.

What Colleges Can Do Now
If you’re in campus leadership or facilities planning, the time to act is now. Decisions made today will shape housing set to be delivered in the Fall of 2028. Engage students early in the planning process. Partner with housing providers, designers, and strategists who understand both generational behavior and enrollment trends. And think beyond square footage. Focus on experience, identity, and value.

Gen Alpha will bring incredible opportunities to reimagine what campus life can be. If we listen to what they value and design accordingly, we won’t just keep them enrolled, we’ll keep them engaged.

Mike Emerson is a Principal at LJC, where he specializes in the design of higher education environments and student housing.