On Sept. 27, Rutgers will officially dedicate the 13-story, $51 million structure, the first new housing on campus in 16 years. Newark Mayor Cory Booker is among those who will participate in the dedication ceremonies, along with Rutgers President Richard McCormick, and Rutgers-Newark Provost Steven J. Diner. Other invited guests include New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine, members of Rutgers governing boards, Rutgers-Newark students, faculty and staff; and the campuss neighbors from the Newark community, including the citys other higher education institutions. Ceremonies begin at 1 p.m.
"Increased housing will transform both our campus and downtown Newark in exciting ways," notes Provost Diner. The campus also plans to convert its former law school building, at 15 Washington Street, into graduate student housing.
Its location couldnt be more advantageous for our students, as it is situated just minutes away from the Newark Public Library, The Newark Museum, New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Riverfront Stadium and downtown businesses, states Executive Vice Provost for Administration Gene Vincenti. Resident students also can take advantage of the citys excellent mass transit system to conveniently travel to New York City and other parts of the state of New Jersey.
The L-shaped building, which wraps around the corner of Central and University avenues, has a red-brick face, alternating with rows of windows, so that it blends in with the historic aspects of the neighborhood. University Square is adjacent to Rutgers-Newarks Talbott Apartments, which houses graduate students, and its Woodward Hall, an undergraduate residence hall and dining facility. A landscaped courtyard with outdoor seating connects the new building and the existing residence halls.
Its residents live in 2- and 3-bedroom apartments with kitchens and private baths, and the first floor will feature a convenience store and a Subway sandwich store. Students do their laundry in a ground-floor facility with 18 washers and 18 driers, and they can host special events in a multipurpose room with theater-style seating for 130 people and a food serving area. This room also doubles as a TV lounge. Student life space is set aside on every residence floor, but its use varies from floor to floor. For instance, one floor houses a student computer lab; others, group study lounges or conference rooms; and still others, recreational lounge areas.
The new residence hall alleviates the overcrowding that had forced R-N to place some resident students in the Robert Treat Hotel in downtown Newark, and others in residence halls at the New Jersey Institute of Technology. University Square increases the number of Rutgers students living on campus in Newark to about 1,200 out of a total student population of over 10,000.
A high resolution photo of University Square is available for download here. Photo by Nick Romanenko.
