As fall semester nears, MSU students will return to campus and take that first step toward setting up their room for the new school year - building a loft.
For the past 25 to 30 years, MSU students have chosen to accommodate more space in their dorm rooms by having a loft built.
University Housing Director Angela Brown said the word has gotten out about lofts because students have been contacted with flyers and heard of them through friends.
"We don't encourage them because if not constructed properly, they can be a safety hazard," she said.
"They can impede access through the window and the door in case of an emergency."
Despite the university's caution about the construction of lofts, MSU students are continuing to pencil in appointments with East Lansing loft companies.
Aaron Perrault, owner of Rockbuilt Lofts, said lofts are becoming more of a necessity each year because so many students become accustomed to them.
"Space is always going to be an issue," Perrault said.
"I think the common use of lofts will continue to grow until the university rebuilds the dorms in the next 20 years and provides loft-able furniture."
Criminal justice freshman Amanda Halabou said she likes her loft because it allows for more space and likes being off the ground.
"We have a wedge that has fallen out a couple of times, but overall, the loft has been sturdy," said Halabou, whose brother advised her to invest in a loft.
Although many incoming freshmen will jump at the opportunity to get a loft built, students should check out the reputation of the loft company before paying up.
Elementary education freshman Stefanie Labellarte and no-preference freshman Lauren Johnson suffered the consequences of not researching the company who built their loft.
Their L-shaped loft was built free-standing away from the wall and wobbled each time the girls climbed into their bed.
"Make sure to go to a reputable company and not to one who has never built one before like we did," Johnson said.
"We said yes to a couple of guys who knocked on our door and said they were building lofts," said Labellarte, whose father had to come and make the loft to be sturdier.
"Call a couple companies and check around to see what other students are having done to their rooms."