Gather Illinois, Rael Development Corporation

Introduction

Gather Illinois (Gather) is a mixed-use development comprised of student housing apartment units including 370 beds and 32 extended-stay hotel rooms. This unique model provides residents and their guests with the same spacious and luxurious apartment living available for residential leasing.

Services

Capital Improvements

Talent & Compliance Training

Operations

Marketing

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Zimmerman property lounge area with apple computers

The Challenge

With a significant international student population, offering flexibility and accommodation options was crucial to the community’s success during a global pandemic. For those residents, one of our greatest challenges was how to make this property feel more like home.

Training staff
Updating onsite amenities
Marketing to our target audience during a pandemic

Our Solution

The incorporation of a mixed-use hotel component within the Gather community ultimately was designed to benefit our residents. The guest suites also service the nearby medical school and center, house those visiting for campus events and game days, as well as provide short-term rental options for faculty, staff, interns, and study abroad students.

Sarah Michels

Regional Supervisor

The Gather Illinois project was an exciting experience to be involved in as the concept of guest suites in student housing was unheard of. Residents enjoyed that their family and friends could stay in the same building when visiting. Gather Illinois focused on offering residents a convenient and elevated student lifestyle that included programming for studying, relaxing, and socializing in several dedicated amenity spaces. The ability to bring residents and the community together fully encompassed the branding idea behind the name Gather."

The Results

Staff became well versed in the leasing of mixed-use property
Access to unique 24-hour amenities
Sought out a place to stay at due to the “at home” feel
Increased resident satisfaction with the additional perks included
Differentiated from other student housing properties in the market