‘MLK Justice Building’ In Newark Will Enhance Court Complex

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — A massive, new building will soon help to modernize the Hall of Records complex in Newark, officials say.

Last week, Essex County officials announced plans to construct a 150,000-square-foot office building adjacent to the busy complex, which serves the county court system.

Officials are proposing to name the building as the “Essex County Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Justice Building” in honor of the legendary civil rights leader.

According to county officials:

“The new edifice will be constructed in the Jurors' Parking Lot on the south side of the Hall of Records and the front entrance will be on Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard. It will provide space for 11 courtrooms for Tax Court and modern office space for Essex County's Constitutional Offices, including the Clerk's Office, Board of Elections, Superintendent of Elections/Commissioner of Registration, Surrogate's Office and Board of Taxation. The MLK Building will include cafeteria space that will be large enough to accommodate the entire complex and will replace the current café on the Hall of Records third floor. A pedestrian bridge will connect the new building to the Hall of Records.”

The new building will have several visual tributes to King, officials said.

“Essex County dedicated an 8-foot tall bronze statue of Dr. King and named a plaza after him in 2015. That original statue will be incorporated into the Dr. King Building. In addition, a new 16-foot bronze statue of Dr. King will be commissioned and placed at the front entrance to the building on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard.”

Comito and Associates from Newark received a professional services contract for $2,289,000 to design the building. A resolution to award a publicly-bid contract to construct the building was on the Essex County Board of Chosen Freeholders' agenda for the Jan. 22 meeting.

The building is being funded through the Essex County capital budget and is scheduled to be completed in the spring of 2021, officials said.

County officials added:

“The construction of the Dr. King Building is part of a multi-phase project to provide additional office space and modern working conditions at the Hall of Records Complex. Currently under construction is a new 900-car parking deck on West Market Street which will be utilized for employee parking. Also underway is the renovation of the two office buildings at 320-321 University Avenue in Newark as the new headquarters for the Essex County Division of Family Assistance and Benefits. Both of these projects are expected to be completed in 2020.”

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