Projects enhance student life and education across the university

College Avenue improvements
College Avenue improvements include bidirectional bike lanes, a dedicated bus lane and permanent fencing between Scott Hall and Ford Hall. 
Photo: Larry McAllister

Those arriving at Rutgers this fall may have noticed significant changes at all locations, from the new Nursing and Science Building in Camden to an expanded Life Sciences Center at Rutgers-Newark and a revamped College Avenue in New Brunswick. 

“This past year has been especially rewarding because we’ve made such a significant difference in the student experience at the university,” said Antonio Calcado, executive vice president, Strategic Planning and Operations and Chief Operating Officer.  “All the projects are meaningful additions to everyday student life. As professionals, we strive for this type of impact, and I believe we’ve achieved it."

Of all the construction completed this summer across the university, Calcado said it’s the long-anticipated College Avenue road improvements that may benefit the most Rutgers students daily.

“I think the road work makes for safer conditions and aesthetically enhances College Avenue to make it look like part of our campus,” he said. “Every student in New Brunswick goes through there at least once a week.”

This collaboration between Rutgers and the city of New Brunswick represents the final phase of the College Avenue Redevelopment Initiative. Fifty metered parking spots along College Avenue between Hamilton and Huntington were replaced with bidirectional bike lanes, a dedicated bus lane, permanent fencing between Scott Hall and Ford Hall with gaps at crosswalks, including a high-intensity signaled crosswalk near The Yard. Parking spots were added to other Rutgers lots to make up for those lost on College Avenue.  The project also replaced the worn road surface and infrastructure – including sewer lines – beneath. 

“The project solves a number of problems. It keeps students from running out between cars into traffic,” Calcado said. “The delineators and bus lane minimized car-lane widths. That’s by design to slow traffic down. You just can’t barrel down College Avenue now.”

In addition to the College Avenue road improvements, students, staff and visitors will see many new and renovated facilities, as well as  those in progress across Rutgers University, including:

Camden

Nursing and Science Building
The new Nursing and Science Building at Fifth and Federal Streets in Camden is supported by nearly $47 million in funding through the higher education capital financing bond passed by New Jersey’s voters in 2012.  
Photo: Nick Romanenko

Nursing and Science Building – This new 100,000-square-foot, $62.5 million facility features teaching spaces that are consistent with the current pedagogical trends in nursing and science education, including  advanced infrastructure of classrooms, specialized simulation laboratories and common space to facilitate key research and educational advancements.
Update: Formal dedication, Sept. 25

Artist Building Renovation – This $3.5 million project involves the renovation of two adjoining row houses on Cooper Street, built circa 1850, totaling approximately 13,000 square feet. The space will house the Department of Childhood Studies, complete with updated offices, conference and seminar rooms, a computer lab, lounge space, and support spaces for faculty, staff and students.
Update: Construction underway and slated for completion in spring 2018.

New Brunswick

Chemistry & Chemical Biology Building – This world-class, $115 million facility is designed to serve and train the next generation of globally engaged scientists and support the needs of the chemical industry in New Jersey and beyond. The 141,000-square-foot space on the Busch campus features flexible research laboratory areas for teaching/teaching support, classrooms and collaborative and administration space.
Update: Opening late fall.

Marco Battaglia Practice Complex – This $8.5 million project overhauled the outdoor practice fields next to High Point Solutions Stadium to support the football team and men’s and women’s lacrosse programs. A new, brick-clad main entry gate opens to approximately 364,000 square feet of field practice area that replaces two 20-year-old existing turf fields and infrastructure. It includes all new, natural grass fields over a profile mix and new drainage and irrigation systems and a service building with restrooms.
Update: Open

Newark

Life Sciences Building
Life Sciences Center in Newark will physically link existing facilities and provide opportunities for synergy among all Life Science departments. 

Life Science Center, Phase II – The $59 million Life Sciences Center will physically link existing facilities and provide opportunities for synergy among all Life Science departments.  Features include the expansion of the imaging suite and vivarium facilities. This 87,000-square-foot building will house the Biology, Chemistry and Neuroscience departments.
Update: Opening this fall
 

Rutgers Business School – This $11 million project represents the fit-out of 28,000 square feet of previously unfinished second and sixth floors, including the addition of a new rear entrance to the building to accommodate the expanding business school. Occupancy includes the displaced MBA Student Services, Graduate Student Services and Executive MBA. The space will also include two tiered lecture halls of approximately 125 seats, each with full information technology infrastructure.
Update: Open

Honors Living Learning Community – This $81 million project involves the creation of an innovative facility with residential and academic spaces to house nearly 400 talented, diverse undergraduate students, including veterans, older students, transfer students and first-generation college students. The 155,000-square-foot, five-story building will be located within the James Street Commons Historic District and will feature mixed-usage to include: academic spaces, student support functions, HLLC departmental offices, long-term bicycle storage, parking for 322 vehicles and 20,000 square feet for retail establishments.
Update: Construction on going, slated to be completed summer 2018.

Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences

Pharmacy Building Addition – This is a state-of-the-art, 57,000-square-foot addition to the existing William Levine Hall Building in Piscataway. When completed this semester, the $37.5 million space will house two 300-seat auditoriums, four 60-seat classrooms, simulation laboratories, group study rooms, student commons and administrative pharmacy space.
Update: Construction ongoing
 

Rutgers School of Dental Medicine Oral Health Pavilion Central Sterilization Facility Fit-Out – The existing Central Sterilization Facility is in the school’s Bergen Street, Newark Pavilion on the “D” Level. The new $5.6 million Central Sterilization Facility is being constructed in the Oral Health Pavilion on the A-Level. The 104,000-square-foot facility will consist of a decontamination room, prep pack room, sterile storage room and advanced infrastructure classrooms and laboratories.
Update: Construction ongoing


For media inquiries, contact Lisa Intrabartola at 848-932-0554 or lintrabartola@ucm.rutgers.edu.