A programme that supports student growth needs a physical environment capable of supporting it. That recognition shaped the third award: the Excellence in Facility Development or Management, recognising a strategic Asset Enhancement Initiative (AEI) that transformed the residential spaces while ensuring residents never had to leave them.
In 2024, Taylor's Residence launched the AEI exceeding RM20 million, with 96% of works completed by 2025. What made the undertaking particularly complex was the requirement to carry it out without displacing the nearly 1,000 residents living on-site throughout the entire process.
The refurbishment was guided by a Design Thinking approach and driven directly by resident feedback. Bi-annual Resident Satisfaction Surveys, achieving over 78% participation from 1,002 residents, along with NPS tracking, focus groups, and monthly Student Resident Council sessions, revealed the top pain points: storage, space, and communal cooking. Every design decision that followed was shaped by those insights.
Upgrades to private rooms included elevated bed platforms with under-bed luggage storage, built-in wardrobe mirrors, and vertical shelving to optimise compact room sizes. Shared spaces were equally transformed: communal kitchens were redesigned with additional cooking hoods, a multi-functional reception lounge and study lounges were introduced, and communal areas were upgraded with multiple LED screens, with structural pillars repurposed to mount them, enabling movie screenings, presentations, and real-time communications.
