Bell Works in Holmdel — Courtesy: Somerset Development
By Joshua Burd
A flavor and fragrance creator is the latest tenant to commit to the newly imagined Bell Labs complex in Holmdel, where it has leased 60,000 square feet for a new creative hub.
The owner, Somerset Development, said Tuesday that it had signed the 15-year lease with International Flavors & Fragrances at what is now known as Bell Works. The developer of scent, taste, and touch experiences will join a roster of tenants from the technology sector and other fields to help repopulate the iconic 2 million-square-foot building as a modern mixed-use workplace destination.
“IFF is proud of its long history of innovating firsts, and we are thrilled to connect our legacy with that of Bell Works, the home of so many breakthrough developments,” Nicolas Mirzayantz, group president of fragrances for IFF, said in a prepared statement. “As we create the future of fragrance for home care and fabric care, I look forward to IFF’s contributions to the story of this extraordinary place. We see this as a unique opportunity to further drive innovation and establish an exciting new home for our people and our customers.”
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Bell Works’ exclusive office leasing team, The Garibaldi Group, represented ownership, with President Jeff Garibaldi and vice presidents Tara Keating and Kyle Mahoney handling the assignment for the firm. CBRE Group’s Edward DaCosta, executive vice president; Lynnelle Noll, first vice president; Gil Hutzler, executive vice president; and Mindy Lissner, executive vice president, represented IFF.
In a news release, the developer said IFF uses consumer insights, R&D, creativity and leading sustainability practices to design and manufacture flavors, fragrances and other components that are used in a variety of personal and food products. Its workforce spans about 7,400 globally.
“IFF has long been one of the most exciting and innovative companies in the Central Jersey region, and it’s only fitting that they’ve found a new home at Bell Works,” said Ralph Zucker, president of Somerset Development. “Today, the building is bustling with businesses and individuals from all backgrounds, as the true vision for New Jersey’s largest metroburb continues to unfold.
“IFF is a perfect addition to an environment that harnesses such a unique sense of collaboration and creation.”
The company’s website lists Manhattan as its corporate headquarters, with a space in Hazlet among its more than a half-dozen U.S. locations.
“Following an extensive statewide search, our team concluded that Bell Works would offer IFF an aspirational and inspirational home for the relocation of their Hazlet creative center,” Lissner said. “Bell Works represents a unique opportunity for IFF to establish an exciting new home and innovative environment for its employees and customers.”
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The campus, whose other uses include retail, entertainment and residential on the grounds of the former Bell Labs property, has seen a flurry of office leasing activity over the past year. Tech tenants such as iCIMS, which has leased 350,000 square feet, are now set to anchor the repositioned property as Somerset moves forward with the other elements of its plan.
