Central King Building at New Jersey Institute of Technology

A Crowning Achievement in Newark

On Jul 6, 2018

The historic renovation of the five-story Central King Building at the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) is the first wave of a $300 million capital building campaign that is transforming research, teaching and community life at NJIT. It also is providing a critical anchor for community redevelopment in Newark’s historic Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. area.

By maintaining the building’s 1911 “Collegiate Gothic” design and such iconic architectural details as the gargoyles along the roofline, the project has transformed the building into a visual landmark as well as an educational destination.

Once home to thousands of Newark Central High School students, the Central King Building now is a hub for innovation and collaborative learning. Within its three main areas – the Center for Innovation and Discovery, the Biological Sciences Education and Research Center, and the Teaching and Learning center – it now houses new classrooms, teaching and research laboratories, spaces for academic advising and pre-professional mentoring, a STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) tutoring center, a writing center, a math emporium and the New Jersey Innovation Institute’s iLabs, a critical point of interaction between workforce and economic development.

Funding for the $99 million renovation came from the 2013 Higher Education Capital Facilities Programs issued through the New Jersey Educational Facilities Authority (NJEFA).

NJIT provided nearly $12.8 million in matching, supplemental funds and/or
payment of part of the debt service, depending on the individual financing program’s requirements. 

With the renovation and reuse of the Central King Building and the essential educational programs being offered there, NJIT has created a noteworthy example of intelligent, creative and economically impactful urban redevelopment that is transforming the campus, enhancing the student experience, and solidifying NJIT’s position going forward as one of the nation’s leading public polytechnic universities. 

ARCHITECT
Marvel Architects
New York, NY

BUILDER
Turner Construction Company
Somerset

FINANCE ENTITY
The New Jersey
Economic Development Authority and New Jersey Institute of Technology

NOMINATOR
Marjorie Perry
President
MZM Construction Co., Inc.

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