Turner Construction Company has initiated the construction on a part of the New Jersey Performing Arts Center's (NJPAC) 12-acre campus-wide expansion project in Newark, US.
This construction for the ArtSide and Chambers Plaza development is the first phase of the three-year, $336m project.
The entire project includes the construction of The Cooperman Family Arts Education and Community Center, a new pedestrian-friendly extension of Mulberry Street across the Arts Center’s campus to Rector Street, and the establishment of a new mixed-use development, ArtSide.
Designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, ArtSide will feature 350 rental units, with 20% allocated as affordable housing. The building will also house office, retail, and cultural spaces, including a fit-out for Newark’s jazz radio station, WBGO.
The extension of Mulberry Street will replace the NJPAC’s Parking Lot A, enhancing the area's accessibility.
The Chambers Plaza redevelopment, the outdoor space in front of the downtown Newark theatre complex, will see the creation of Essex County Green, an urban outdoor park designed for year-round use. This new space will include rain gardens, improved lighting, and outdoor seating, providing a versatile venue for community and arts events.
The NJPAC said that construction on the Chambers Plaza redesign began in April 2024.
Turner, which completed the original NJPAC facility in 1997, is now expanding the campus to further contribute to Newark's cultural and residential infrastructure.
LMXD, an affiliate of L+M Development Partners, is also collaborating on this project. L+M previously worked with Turner on the Hahne & Co Redevelopment Project in Newark.
Turner Construction Company vice-president and general manager Lawrence Boresen said: “The Turner team is proud to be part of this revolutionary and community-enriching project, and we look forward to our role in the transformation of the New Jersey Performing Arts Center campus, alongside our valued clients and partners including NJPAC, LMXD, MCI Collective, and the city of Newark.”
