Rutgers Announces Project to Add Academic Building, Student Housing

The details of a $295 million redevelopment project that will see the former New Brunswick Seminary building transform into a 175,000 square-foot Rutgers University academic building were finalized last month, the University announced on Monday.

The project will also include additional student housing.

The University has entered into a public-private partnership with New Brunswick Development Corporation (Devco) for the redevelopment of 10 acres of land in the heart of the College Avenue Campus, according to University officials.

The new academic building will benefit the School of Arts and Sciences, and the new student housing will provide over 1,000 beds, according to the University. The land will also include a residential honors college and retail space, a multi-level parking garage, new green space and infrastructure improvements.

The project was initially approved by the Rutgers Board of Governors in June of 2012, and is projected to create over 1,000 construction jobs, according to the University.

The University will receive more than $82.5 million in state grants and tax credits toward the project, University officials said. The full project is expected to be completed by the fall of 2016.

“In light of growing enrollment and our aging student housing stock, these projects are critical to maintain a quality educational and residential environment for our students,” Vice President of Facilities and Capital Planning Antonio Calcado said. “We have already begun demolition at College Avenue and Seminary Place. We will shortly begin site preparation at College Avenue and Hamilton Street, Lot 8, for construction of a 500-bed student housing facility, which is slated for completion in fall 2016.”

The University's most recent student housing project also took place on the College Avenue Campus, University Center, and opened in 1994.

According to the University, enrollment has grown by 14 percent since 2006 while classroom space has increased just 3.8 percent. University officials claim the current housing stock is more than 25 years old, with 18 buildings over the age of 75.

According to the University, an analysis of housing demand shows that Rutgers will need to add 1,000 beds within the next few years.

In addition to providing housing for the University's growing population, including students who were previously enrolled at the University of Medicine and Dentistry New Jersey (UMDNJ), University officials say the additional housing will relieve some of the impact on the City of New Brunswick.

The University's acquisition seven of UMDNJ's medical schools became official earlier this month.

“Housing stock for middle-income families in the neighborhoods surrounding the College Avenue Campus has declined as a result of student occupancy year after year,” Calcado said. “The city has encouraged more on-campus housing opportunities for students.”

The housing component calls for a 240,000 square-foot, 125-unit apartment-style structure to hold 500 beds at Hamilton Street and College Avenue.
The project, expected to be completed by fall of 2016, calls for four-bedroom, single occupancy apartments, offering additional housing options for Rutgers students in an on-campus setting, as well as 13,000 square feet of retail space.

Rutgers honors students have the opportunity to take advantage of 550 additional beds in the residential honors college, expected to be completed by the fall of 2015, University officials said.

The college puts an emphasis on the importance of honors undergraduate research.

It is designed to attract top students from the state and around the country, and will feature a faculty-in-residence aspect. Faculty will provide mentoring and programmatic support to the honors students. The college will feature academic and library spaces, as well as areas for small group and individual study.

A dining area will be available for all students and faculty.

University officials say the need for an academic building to support the School of Arts and Sciences has been apparent, and while it has built science and laboratory spaces on other campuses, a lecture hall is still needed.

The building will house a number of academic departments and about 2,500 seats of classroom space in the form of modern lecture halls, according to University officials. The building is expected to be completed by the fall of 2016.

During construction, those who normally park in Lot 8 will be able to park at the University Center parking deck, Lot 11 on College Avenue and the College Avenue parking deck. The Rutgers Department of Transportation Services will provide information to the members of the University community prior to the closure of Lot 8, University officials said.

The “grease trucks” that currently rent space month-to-month in Lot 8 have been offered several alternative locations on the campuses in New Brunswick and Piscataway, including five possible spaces at the intersection of Senior Street and College Avenue, University officials said.

“The ‘grease trucks’ are not going away,” Calcado said. “While construction is in progress, we have offered the vendors great locations where they can continue to serve the community.”

The project currently contemplates the development of a structured parking facility on Lot 11, the current site of a surface parking lot bordered by Union and Mine streets, according to University officials. The parking from this garage will offset the elimination of surface parking on Lot 8.

Construction of this portion is slated for completion in January of 2016.