Aspen Heights Student Housing Case Study

Creating Leasing-Ready Student Amenities in a Volatile Market

Aspen Heights Partners builds student housing communities designed to attract residents quickly, increase satisfaction, and perform well long term. For their University City development in Charlotte, they needed shared spaces that were modern, durable, and compelling enough to support a competitive leasing cycle.
But the project began during a period of historic supply-chain disruption — with prices changing weekly, product stock shifting without notice, and freight delays threatening construction schedules.
To stay on schedule and on budget, Aspen Heights needed an FF&E partner who could stabilize pricing, protect design intent, and manage procurement risk. Office Basics stepped in to provide the stability and oversight necessary for the project's execution.

The FF&E Challenge:

Deliver High-Impact Spaces Without Time or Budget Risk

Shared spaces were central to the leasing strategy, but volatile market conditions threatened the plan:

Stock outages occurred overnight

Freight and lead times shifted weekly

Vendor pricing fluctuated rapidly

Substitutions risked breaking design cohesion

Aspen Heights needed confidence that the furniture plan would hold firm, even as the market moved around it.
Office Basics stepped in to bring stability, transparency, and execution control to the entire FF&E process.

Our Approach

FF&E Planning That Reduces Risk Before Procurement Begins

Our Approach

Before purchasing began, Office Basics partnered closely with Thriven Design to create a fully executable plan aligned with aesthetic intent, student usage needs, and durability requirements.

Real-Time Adaptation

The plan accounted for real-time availability and ownership budget thresholds. By addressing potential issues early, the team avoided late-stage redesigns, surprise costs, and schedule impacts.

Vendor Partnerships

During active cost inflation, Office Basics leveraged its national vendor network to lock in pricing before increases and rapidly source alternatives when products became unavailable.

Coordinated FF&E Procurement and Installation

That Protects the Timeline

Office Basics served as the project's central coordination point across:

Manufacturers

Freight Carriers

Install Teams

Operations

We managed production schedules, delivery sequencing, and on-site installation
ensuring the project stayed on track and eliminating bottlenecks that could impact opening day.

Three Lobby Rooms

Game Room

Study Spaces

General Offices

The Club Room

Administration Areas

Outdoor Dining

Pool and Patio Spaces

The Outcome: On-Time Delivery, Full Budget Compliance, Zero Design Compromise

On-time furniture delivery aligned with construction

Full budget compliance without scope cuts

A cohesive indoor and outdoor amenity experience

Smooth coordination across vendors and installers

A fully leasing-ready property on opening day

Repeat engagement from both Aspen Heights and Thriven Design

The finished spaces supported leasing momentum, resident satisfaction, and long-term community performance.

"With the challenges today's design community faces, like cost inflation and lack of product stock, having Office Basics as part of our team as the furniture dealer was invaluable. Specifying products that fit within the client's budget, meeting the project's completion timeline, and working with the approved design concept is like doing acrobatics. Without the support, guidance, and teamwork we always receive from Office Basics, this project would not have come out as nice as it did."

Sarah Mitchell

Development Director, Aspen Heights Partners

Aspen Heights Student Housing Case Study

Creating Leasing-Ready Student Amenities in a Volatile Market

A Student Housing Project With Zero Room for Delays

The FF&E Challenge:

Deliver High-Impact Spaces Without Time or Budget Risk

The Vision: Modern, Durable, Student-Focused Community Spaces

Our Approach