Claremont Corp. Center Nears Completion

After nine months of drilling, hammering and sawing, the Claremont Corporate Center is almost complete. “The building will be done in November, and we’re expecting our first tenant to be in by the end of the year,” said Jeff Heller, executive vice president of the project’s developer, CB Richard Ellis. 

The project began in the design phase in 2007, and has been going non-stop since then, according to William Kaufman, owner of WESKetch Architecture, the architectural firm responsible for the new center.

When the construction is complete, the site–located at the corner of Morris and Springfield Avenues–will boast a 46,000 square foot class-A office building, uniquely positioned around the house of the late Dr. William H. Risk.

“We figured out a way to preserve the building and add a large office complex to the rear of the existing building while preserving the original stone mansion,” Kaufman said. “The Risk House was somewhat of a cornerstone of the community at the turn of the century, and now it’s the cornerstone of the new, modern building.”

And he means that quite literally. According to Heller, one of the home’s exterior walls will be incorporated into the two-story glass atrium of the new building. “One side of the atrium will be exposed stone. It will fuse into the modern features of the atrium,” Heller said.

The new center, which will serve as a bridge between Summit’s past and future, was an architect’s dream, he said.

“It’s unique. It’s a site that combines a hundred-year-old building with a brand new modern building, and blends the traditions of the old with demands of the new,” Kaufman said. “When you have an old historic place that you’re trying to preserve and work around with modern demands, it’s challenging, and it’s the kind of project that architects are in business for. These challenges breed the most interesting projects and creative solutions.”

But the project hasn't been without its share of controversy. Union workers used an inflatable rat, similar to the one being seen outside Bouras Properties of late, to protest in mid-late July.

Upon completion, the site will boast an eco-friendly office building, complete with solar efficiency and underground parking to maximize green space. These features will help keep energy usage down, and keep tenants healthy, according to Kaufman.

With more than 40,000 square feet of office space to offer, it is not yet certain how many tenants will call the center their new corporate home.

“It was designed to meet the standards of corporate America, but we’re envisioning probably three or four tenants in the building,” Heller said. “A lot of commerce goes on in New York City, but many executives live in the greater Summit area. So they can have offices in the center, for half the rent of New York, and go into the city for meetings.”

The lower rent will likely entice corporate executives, which can create dozens of jobs in the downtown Summit area, according to Kaufman. “With the absence of the Summit Medical Group, this would bring back potentially 50 to 60 jobs, which will help revitalize the business district,” he said. “It will bring back people for bagels and coffee and shopping.

“And it becomes a landmark gateway to the city. It’s something that will probably be here for hundreds of years. It redefines the entrance from the western end of Summit.”

For a virtual tour of the building, go here.