$336M 'Transformation' Of NJPAC Campus In Newark Has Begun

NEWARK, NJ — A massive, $336 million redevelopment of the campus surrounding the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) in Newark has begun.

Last week, construction kicked off at Chambers Plaza, the outdoor space in front of the downtown Newark theater complex. Developers said the redesign – and the addition of a new space, Essex County Green – will combine to form a new “four-season urban park.” Other additions will include a rain garden, new lighting and seating, providing a space for performances, local markets and classes.

Here's what to expect during construction of the new plaza, NJPAC reported:

“Visitors to the Arts Center will notice that portions of the campus will be surrounded with fencing to facilitate the work, beginning on or around April 1. NJPAC will remain open and accessible throughout construction. The Arts Center’s box office, Parking Lot A, and Nico Kitchen + Bar will all remain open. Signage along Center Street will direct pedestrians and vehicular traffic to the most easily accessible entry points during the construction work. However, the Arrival Court parking area adjacent to Center Street will be closed.”

The work at Chambers Plaza – which will continue through the end of 2024 – launches the first phase of a larger project that is expected to “transform” the 12-acre NJPAC campus over the course of three years.

The full renovation is expected to cross the finish line by 2027. It will include the construction of the Cooperman Family Arts Education and Community Center on what is now NJPAC’s Parking Lot C, as well as the construction of a new pedestrian-friendly extension of Mulberry Street across the arts center’s campus to Rector Street.

The project also includes the creation of “ArtSide,” a new mixed-use development that will include 350 residential rental units and retail/cultural spaces along the extension of Mulberry Street. According to NJPAC, 20 percent of the residential units in the development will consist of affordable housing.

The ArtSide project will include high-rise and low-rise buildings, as well as a new headquarters for jazz public radio station, WBGO. It will be built on what is now the arts center’s Parking Lot A.

• See Related: Real Estate Project Near NJPAC Gets Huge Tax Break From NJ

NJPAC president and CEO John Schreiber said that when former Gov. Tom Kean and Ray Chambers first imagined NJPAC in the late 1980s, they hoped the venue would one day serve as the centerpiece of a “beautiful new Newark neighborhood.”

“We are delighted to be making their expansive vision a reality,” Schreiber said.

Send local news tips and correction requests to [email protected]. Learn more about advertising on Patch here. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site. Don’t forget to visit the Patch Newark Facebook page.