In American universities the housing system in which students live when classes are in session is considered as important as other university facilities. In order to support the efforts of Iowa State University in addressing the increasing student expectations for housing and after reviewing the students' preferences for housing, this study offers another approach for the housing issue. In this thesis, first, the expectations of housing for foreign single graduate students were identified, and then, a prototype of housing based on sustainable ideas was proposed as a solution. This thesis exposes the deficiencies of the current norms of density applicable to apartments close to campus. In the future we think that the density norms should be changed to represent the necessities of the students. Alternative development standards would permit and support flexible requirements leading to more environment friendly buildings that provide cost-savings to both, the developers and the consumers.