CHICAGO, IL - Chicago-based Mary Cook Associates (MCA), a national, award-winning commercial interior design firm, announced it has completed the interiors for Aperture, a new 680-bed off-campus student housing community near the University of Central Florida in Orlando. Developed by Toll Brothers Campus Living, Aperture includes 204 fully furnished apartments in studio, one-, two- and four-bedroom floor plans designed for students seeking a high-performance living environment grounded in wellness. Aperture also showcases in-unit furnishings from Built to Spec, MCA’s proprietary offering of customizable student housing furniture.
“We designed Aperture’s interiors with clear intention, grounded in a deep understanding of who the residents are and what they value, from cultural diversity to mental wellness and social connection,” said Mary Cook, founder and president of MCA. “The result is a focus on well-being, comfort and flexibility, with engaging, durable spaces that support both academic and personal success while creating an environment where residents can recharge. And with our Built to Spec furnishings created specifically for Aperture, the units themselves are as intentionally designed as the community’s common areas.”
Aperture represents the first installation of Built to Spec following MCA’s launch of the student housing furnishings solution last year. Produced in collaboration with fabricator Morgan Li, unit furnishings were specifically designed and manufactured for Aperture’s residences based on how the university’s students live, sleep, study, work and play. The Built to Spec pieces allow apartment interiors to better meet the needs of residents and align seamlessly with amenity spaces to foster a cohesive experience throughout the property. Built to Spec elements in Aperture apartments include deep headboards with integrated power outlets for device charging and other durable furniture pieces designed at the proper scale and proportion to maximize everyday functionality within the floor plans.
Samples of Aperture’s Built to Spec furnishings were showcased in the pre-leasing office, allowing prospective residents to see, touch and experience how the pieces functioned before signing a lease. “This was a unique early opportunity to bring the design story to life and reinforce how the units, furnishing and amenities intentionally work together to support the student lifestyle,” said Cook. “The response was overwhelmingly positive, contributing to Aperture reaching full lease-up three months before opening and delivering measurable R.O.E.®, (Return on Environment), through stronger demand, reduced lease-up risk and long-term value for our client.”
For Aperture’s amenities and common areas, MCA maximized the property’s relatively compact footprint by creating a high-impact collection of flexible spaces to support focused study, group collaboration and social interaction. Amenities include a two-story fitness center with cardio and strength equipment plus an outdoor turf training area, a computer lounge, and tech-equipped study lounges on every floor with private and group workspaces. Social and recreational offerings feature a coffee house, e-sports gaming lounge, courtyard with fire pits and grills, a game lounge with billiards, shuffleboard and ping pong, and a resort-style pool with a tanning shelf and outdoor viewing screen. Together, these spaces provide flexible environments that accommodate a wide range of student activities throughout the day.
For more information about Mary Cook Associates, visit www.marycook.com
About Mary Cook Associates: Established in 1986, Mary Cook Associates (MCA) is a fully integrated interior architecture and design firm nationally known for creating innovative interiors for leading owners and developers of real estate. The firm’s projects include multifamily, model homes, student living, senior living, clubhouses, restaurants, and hospitality environments. MCA’s work emphasizes functionality, showcases possibilities, and delivers a measurable ROE® (Return on Environment). MCA’s team includes more than two dozen designers and architects that are strategic, imaginative and skilled at designing a wide variety of spaces that respond to demographic, geographic and lifestyle influences of target markets. Smart, functional spaces that establish immediate connections with their users and boost Living Better by Design℠, increase property value, and accelerate sales and occupancy rates are the hallmarks of the results MCA consistently achieves. In its 40th year, the firm continues to expand its national presence with award-winning work across the country.