Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School relocating in New Brunswick
NEW BRUNSWICK – Officials broke ground Thursday on the New Jersey Innovation and Technology Hub and announced the relocation of the Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and the inclusion of the Rutgers Translational Research facility to the site.
The Hub, a $665 million, 550,000-square foot development that will be a center of innovation, research and medical education in downtown New Brunswick, will provide modern workspace designed to foster collaboration among researchers, entrepreneurs, startup companies and others.
“This is one of those rare projects that when completed will be even more exciting than our original vision,” Gov. Phil Murphy said at the groundbreaking. “The addition of the medical school and research facility will make this a one-of-a-kind facility and the medical and scientific breakthroughs made here will be felt for generations.”
Plans last year called for an initial 10-story, 210,000-square-foot building with mixed-use non-residential space with a direct connection to the Northeast Corridor rail line across Albany Street from the city’s train station. The site formerly was the Ferren Parking Deck, which was demolished in 2016, leaving a hole within an entire city block in the middle of the city’s downtown.
Owned by the city and managed by New Brunswick Development Corporation (DEVCO), the property provides proximity to existing corporate, medical and academic research activities.
Earlier:Long-awaited New Brunswick 'Hub' redevelopment's first tenants unveiled
Middlesex County announced Thursday it will become a new core partner in the Hub, joining Rutgers University, RWJBarnabas Health, Hackensack Meridian Health, New Jersey Economic Development Authority, and DEVCO, as well as the first tenants, Princeton University and Choose NJ.
The development will provide each of the core partners and initial tenants with collaborative office and workspace, designed to encourage cooperation among innovators in real time.