A Newer Brunswick

NJBIZ, Mar 7, 2005

Rutgers University president Richard McCormick wants his university's New Brunswick campus to resemble those of Harvard and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. A slew of projects are in the offing to realize that dream, including the construction of a mile-long greenway closed to traffic that will connect the campus to the local train station.

Said station would also get a new neighbor, a $125 million, 30-story building designed to serve as a gateway to the campus. Planned by the New Brunswick Development Corp., the complex includes a book store, parking, retail stores and 200 condos. A pedestrian bridge over the city's main drag, George Street, would link renovated dorms to a new campus bus terminal.

Two new academic buildings are also planned, including one for the Graduate School of Education's National Institute of Early Education Research. Rutgers officials, who announced the plans over the past two weeks, are currently working out the costs and financing options.