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3 images combined of the banks student living with multi-user outdoor kitchens and gas fire pits

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A place to grill dinner with roommates. A comfortable seat around the fire. An outdoor gathering area where several groups can spend time together without sharing one central hangout.

At The Banks Student Living in Coralville, Iowa, formerly known as Latitude, outdoor amenities give residents more ways to enjoy life beyond their apartments. Spotix helped select products and plan two shared outdoor kitchens, complemented by Prism Hardscapes fire pit gathering areas throughout the community’s outdoor spaces.

For our team in nearby North Liberty, this was an opportunity to contribute to a local project with a clear purpose: making outdoor living more enjoyable for college students.

Prism Hardscapes Tavola 8 gas fire pit surrounded by orange chairs at The Banks Student Living.

Planning Outdoor Amenities for a Shared Community

An outdoor kitchen serving an apartment community has different needs from one built for a single household. Residents bring different levels of grilling experience, and the equipment needs to make sense to someone using it for the first time.

For this project, we helped plan straightforward cooking stations with built-in gas grills, counter space and enclosed storage. Keeping the layouts simple made the grilling areas approachable while giving residents space to prepare and serve food.

The fire pit areas followed a similar approach. Several distinct seating arrangements create places for different groups to gather at the same time. Residents can choose a lounge setting near the pool or a separate courtyard seating area, with a gas fire pit providing a focal point for each space.

Shared courtyard at The Banks Student Living with fire pit seating, picnic tables and a hammock.

Two Outdoor Kitchens Built Around Everyday Use

Each outdoor kitchen centers on a Blaze 32-Inch Built-In Gas Grill with Lights. The built-in layout keeps the cooking equipment together in a defined station, with counter space on either side.

Rather than adding numerous cooking components, we helped keep the kitchens focused on the essentials. For a multi-user space, a straightforward setup gives residents a familiar place to cook without introducing unnecessary complexity.

Blaze built-in gas grill with stainless steel storage cabinet and timer control in a shared outdoor kitchen.

Below each grill, a Blaze 32-Inch Stainless Steel Dry Storage Cabinet with Shelf adds enclosed storage within the island.

The outdoor kitchens also incorporate a Firegear Mechanical Timer with Emergency Shut-Off. Timer controls and an emergency shut-off add practical operating features to a cooking area shared by many residents. Those details deserve attention early in the planning process, alongside the grill and island layout.

Blaze 32-inch built-in gas grill and storage cabinet beside the community basketball court.

Prism Hardscapes Fire Pit Gathering Areas

The project pairs rectangular and round concrete gas fire pits with different seating layouts. Using two shapes helps each gathering area suit its surroundings while maintaining a consistent material style across the property.

Tavola 8: A Rectangular Focal Point for Lounge Seating

The Prism Hardscapes Tavola 8 Concrete Gas Fire Pit, 60 × 32 Inches anchors seating areas furnished with sofas and individual chairs.

Its rectangular shape works naturally with seating arranged along its sides. In the courtyard, the concrete finish sits comfortably alongside bright furniture and landscaping, giving the lounge areas a substantial centerpiece.

Prism Hardscapes Tavola 8 rectangular concrete gas fire pit between outdoor sofas and lounge chairs.

Moderno 5: A Round Fire Pit for Group Gatherings

The Prism Hardscapes Moderno 5 Concrete Gas Fire Pit, 36 Inches provides a different gathering format.

One round fire pit sits within a recessed seating area near the pool, while another is surrounded by individual chairs in a separate outdoor space. The circular form suits seating arranged around the flame, creating a shared focal point from several directions.

Prism Hardscapes Moderno 5 round gas fire pit with glass wind guard in a recessed poolside seating area.

Together, the two models show how a concrete fire pit can support different layouts within one property. Explore more shapes and sizes in our Concrete Gas Fire Pits collection.

Prism Hardscapes Moderno 5 concrete gas fire pit surrounded by orange courtyard chairs.

Wind Guards for Exposed Outdoor Spaces

Glass wind guards were also selected for the project to help shield the flames from moving air and provide an additional barrier around the burner area.

For shared outdoor amenities, accessories like these belong in the initial product discussion. They affect how residents experience the finished space and should be considered alongside the fire pit’s shape, size and placement.

Giving Different Groups Room to Gather

The strength of this project is the variety of spaces available within the community. Two cooking stations provide separate places to grill. Rectangular fire pits anchor lounge seating, while round models bring people together around a central flame. Nearby dining tables give residents somewhere to enjoy a meal after cooking.

Poolside outdoor amenity space at The Banks Student Living with two grilling stations and covered seating. — Grilling stations, dining furniture and fire pit seating bring several outdoor activities into one amenity space.

For contractors, designers and property teams planning similar amenities, this project illustrates the value of considering the entire outdoor experience. Product selection, operating controls, storage and seating layouts all contribute to how useful the finished space will be.

We enjoyed helping the team at The Banks choose products for a local community where students have room to cook, spend time with friends and make the most of their outdoor surroundings.

Products Featured in This Project

Plan Your Shared Outdoor Space With SpotixPRO

Planning outdoor amenities for a student living community, multifamily property or hospitality project? Spotix can help you compare grills, gas fire pits and outdoor kitchen components around the needs of your space.

Explore the products featured above, browse our Gas Fire Pits collection, or learn about SpotixPRO accounts for your next project. Ready to discuss product selection or your outdoor kitchen plans? Contact our team.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which fire pits were used at The Banks Student Living?

The project features Prism Hardscapes Tavola 8 rectangular concrete gas fire pits measuring 60 × 32 inches and Moderno 5 round concrete gas fire pits measuring 36 inches. The different shapes complement the community’s lounge seating and circular gathering areas.

What products were selected for the shared outdoor kitchens?

The two outdoor kitchens feature Blaze 32-inch built-in gas grills with lights, Blaze 32-inch stainless steel dry storage cabinets with shelves, and Firegear mechanical timers with emergency shut-off controls. Spotix helped select the products and plan straightforward layouts for multiple residents to use.

How did Spotix help with the project?

Spotix helped select products suited to the community’s needs and plan the outdoor kitchens. The project combined simple grilling stations with several fire pit gathering areas so different groups of residents could enjoy the outdoor spaces at the same time.