A Parent’s Guide to Life at ōLiv Broom

What Comes With the Apartment

Furnished bedrooms
Bedrooms include a Full XL bed, built-in dressers, a desk, and a chair. Other bedroom features include blackout shades, a modern ceiling fan with light, high-speed Wi-Fi, Ethernet outlets, and smart bedroom door locks. Select layouts also feature private bathrooms and walk-in closets with built-in organizers.

Furnished shared spaces
Apartments include modern custom furniture in the main living area, along with a living room TV, wood-style flooring, window shades, and a full-size washer and dryer.

Kitchen features
Kitchens include premium stainless-steel appliances, quartz stone countertops, designer cabinetry, stylish backsplashes, architectural track lighting, and USB-C ports.

Internet access
High-speed internet is included, with Wi-Fi throughout the building and Ethernet connections in each bedroom.

What Families Should Include in the Budget

Monthly installments
Monthly installments vary by floor plan, bedroom type, lease term, upgrades, and current availability.

Parking
Garage parking is available for residents who plan to bring a vehicle. Parking is an additional expense and availability should be reviewed as part of the leasing process.

Personal living expenses
Families should separately plan for groceries, toiletries, cleaning products, school supplies, transportation, dining, and other personal purchases.

Apartment upgrades
Select residences feature VIP and Mansion upgrade packages. VIP residences include upgraded finishes and technology, while select Mansion residences add a private furnished outdoor terrace and private hot tub. Families considering an upgraded residence should review the monthly installment for the exact layout and package selected.

Academic Spaces Close to Home

Students have access to:

• Private study rooms
• Group study rooms
• Study booths
• High-speed Wi-Fi throughout the building

These spaces give residents choices for individual coursework, group projects, online meetings, exam preparation, and everyday studying without requiring a trip back to campus.

Fitness & Wellness Amenities

The 24/7 fitness center gives residents access to weight and cardio equipment, Pilates machines, and a yoga studio. This gives residents a convenient place to work out without leaving the community.

The wellness area also includes:

• Indoor hot tub
• Cold plunge
• Sauna

Events & Resident Connection

ōLiv Broom hosts lifestyle events, pop-up shops, giveaways, and collaborations with local brands. These activities give residents recurring opportunities to meet neighbors and take part in community life outside their apartments.

New Here Coffee

New Here Coffee gives residents an on-site option for handcrafted beverages and bites right inside the building. For students heading to class, settling into a study session, or meeting a friend between commitments, the cafe adds another useful gathering place to daily life at ōLiv Broom.

Rooftop Living

The rooftop brings together several of ōLiv Broom’s signature community spaces, including:

• Rooftop pool deck
• Hot tub
• Daybeds and lounge seating
• Outdoor terrace
• TVs
• Social games
• Grill and fire pit area

Students have space to take a break after class, spend time with roommates, or gather with friends without leaving the community.

Before Move-In

Start by reviewing the lease, important dates, apartment layout, and move-in instructions together. Your student should understand their monthly installment, lease term, bedroom assignment, parking arrangements if applicable, and the items they need to bring.

A practical packing list includes:

• Bedding for a Full XL bed
• Towels and toiletries
• Cookware and dishes
• Cleaning supplies
• Laundry supplies
• School and desk items
• Chargers and electronics
• Clothing and personal items
• Decorations and photos

Students living with roommates should also coordinate shared household purchases before move-in. Agreeing on items such as cookware, cleaning products, small appliances, and shared supplies keeps everyone from arriving with duplicates.

On Move-In Day

Once your student reaches their apartment, they should walk through the residence and become familiar with the major apartment features, keys or entry credentials, appliances, furniture, laundry equipment, and community areas.

Unpacking the essentials first keeps the first day manageable. Bedding, toiletries, chargers, medication, a change of clothes, and basic kitchen items are good places to start.

Getting Familiar With ōLiv Broom

During the first few days, encourage your student to explore the community and locate the places they expect to use most often, including:

• Study rooms and booths
• Fitness center
• Wellness area
• New Here Coffee
• Rooftop and pool
• Garage and bike storage
• Community team

Learning the building early gives students a clear picture of the resources around them as classes and other commitments begin.

Bikes & Scooters

ōLiv Broom includes indoor bike storage, giving students who bike or use a scooter a designated storage area inside the community.

Bringing a Car

Residents who bring a vehicle have access to parking in the community’s controlled-access garage. Parking availability and current costs should be reviewed during the leasing process.

Bus Service

Students at ōLiv Broom also have access to bus service throughout the UW–Madison campus area and greater Madison. Fare-free UW campus routes connect students with academic buildings, libraries, residence areas, and other university destinations, while Madison Metro routes provide additional options for getting around the city.

With stops near Broom Street and Johnson Street, the bus gives residents another practical way to get to class, campus activities, errands, and destinations beyond walking distance. Students should check current routes and schedules through UW Transportation Services or Madison Metro Transit when planning their trips.

What Students Should Handle

Maintenance requests
When something in the apartment needs attention, residents should contact the on-site team promptly and follow the appropriate maintenance process.

Lease questions
Students should know where to find their lease and reach out early when they have a question about a deadline, policy, payment, or other lease responsibility.

Community communication
Residents should keep up with messages and announcements related to the property, events, building information, and important dates.

Roommate conversations
Cleaning, shared household items, guests, schedules, and other everyday roommate matters should start with direct communication among residents.

Monthly payments
Students should understand their installment schedule and the process for handling their account throughout the lease term.

How Parents Stay Involved

Parents and guardians remain valuable partners as students learn to manage these responsibilities independently. Helpful ways to stay involved include:

• Reviewing the lease together before signing
• Creating a housing and personal-expense budget
• Keeping track of move-in, payment, renewal, and move-out dates
• Talking through roommate expectations before move-in
• Encouraging your student to communicate directly when a housing question comes up
• Checking in about apartment responsibilities during the first several weeks

Establishing expectations before move-in gives students room to take ownership while keeping families informed about the bigger decisions.

How close is ōLiv Broom to UW-Madison?

Very close. ōLiv Broom is approximately a six-minute walk from the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus. Memorial Library, Library Mall, the Kohl Center, and State Street are also within roughly 7 to 10 minutes on foot.

Does ōLiv Broom offer individual leases?

Yes. Leases are individual and assigned by the bed rather than by the full apartment. Each resident signs their own lease for their assigned space.

Are ōLiv Broom apartments furnished?

Yes. Apartments come fully furnished. Bedrooms include a bed, built-in dressers, a desk, and a chair, while shared living spaces include furniture and a living room TV. Apartments also include a full-size washer and dryer.

Does ōLiv Broom offer roommate matching?

Yes. Complimentary roommate matching is available upon request. Matching considers resident profiles with details such as interests, study and sleep habits, majors, and lifestyle preferences.

Is parking available at ōLiv Broom?

Yes. Resident parking is available in a controlled-access garage for an additional cost. Families planning to bring a vehicle should review parking availability during the leasing process.

Does ōLiv Broom have study spaces?

Yes. Residents have access to private study rooms, group study rooms, study booths, high-speed Wi-Fi throughout the community, and New Here Coffee inside the building.

What fitness and wellness amenities are included?

ōLiv Broom features a 24/7 fitness center with weight and cardio equipment, Pilates machines, and a yoga studio. Residents also have access to an indoor hot tub, cold plunge, and sauna.

What makes the rooftop different from other community spaces?

The rooftop combines a pool deck and hot tub with lounge seating, daybeds, an outdoor terrace, TVs, social games, grills, and a fire pit area. It gives residents another place to spend time outside their apartments while staying right at ōLiv Broom.

What is New Here Coffee?

New Here Coffee is an on-site cafe inside ōLiv Broom offering handcrafted beverages and bites. It gives residents a convenient place to grab something before class, meet a friend, or settle in near home for a study session.

What should families budget for beyond the monthly installment?

Families should plan for parking when applicable, personal living expenses, groceries, household products, transportation, school supplies, and other expenses outside the lease. Monthly housing installments vary based on floor plan, bedroom type, lease term, upgrades, and availability.

Does ōLiv Broom offer upgraded apartments?

Yes. Select residences offer VIP and Mansion upgrades. VIP packages include elevated finishes and technology, while select Mansion residences include a private outdoor terrace with furniture and a private hot tub.