Interiors Completed for Aperture Student Housing Community at 12727 East Colonial Drive in Orlando

Interior design work has been completed for Aperture, a new 680-bed off-campus student housing community located at 12727 East Colonial Drive in Orlando, near the University of Central Florida. The project was developed by Toll Brothers Campus Living and contains 204 fully furnished apartments offered in studio, one-, two-, and four-bedroom floor plans.

The interiors were designed by Mary Cook Associates, a Chicago-based commercial interior design firm, with an emphasis on wellness, flexibility, and durability across both private residences and shared amenity spaces. Each apartment incorporates Built to Spec, the firm’s proprietary student housing furniture solution.

Aperture_Concierge: (Credit: Interiors by Mary Cook Associates, developed by Toll Bros. Campus Living)

“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 its launch last year. The furnishings were produced in collaboration with fabricator Morgan Li and were designed specifically for the project based on how students live, sleep, study, work, and socialize. The Built to Spec elements allow apartment interiors to align with amenity spaces while supporting day-to-day functionality.

Aperture_Gaming Loft: (Credit: Interiors by Mary Cook Associates, developed by Toll Bros. Campus Living)

In-unit features include deep headboards with integrated power outlets for device charging and other durable furnishings scaled to maximize usability within the floor plans. Samples of these furnishings were displayed in the pre-leasing office, allowing prospective residents to experience materials and functionality prior to signing a lease.

Aperture_Social Lounge: (Credit: Interiors by Mary Cook Associates, developed by Toll Bros. Campus Living)

“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.”

Amenity spaces were configured to maximize the property’s compact footprint while supporting focused study, collaboration, and social engagement. These include a two-story fitness center equipped with cardio and strength equipment, an outdoor turf training area, a computer lounge, and tech-enabled study lounges on every floor with both private and group work areas.

Aperture_Coffee House: (Credit: Interiors by Mary Cook Associates, developed by Toll Bros. Campus Living)

Additional amenities include 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 shared spaces accommodate a range of academic, recreational, and social activities throughout the day.

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