A rendering of Montgomery Township’s new 62,500-square-foot municipal and library building at Route 206 and Orchard Road — Courtesy: DMR Architects
By Joshua Burd
DMR Architects is touting the start of construction at a new 62,500-square-foot municipal and library building in Montgomery Township.
As the designer for the project, the Hasbrouck Heights-based firm said the building will reflect the history and identity of township residents while addressing its current and future civic needs. The facility at the corner of Route 206 and Orchard Road will be the new home for municipal offices, the police department, council chambers and an additional branch of the Somerset County Library System, with construction slated to take 18 to 24 months.
“It is exciting for the entire Montgomery community to begin construction on a new municipal center and library that will serve our community for generations to come,” Montgomery Mayor Sadaf Jaffer said, speaking on behalf of the township committee. “I am so thankful to all the elected officials, professionals, and community members who worked on this project and ensured that it will be a beautiful representation of our diverse history and community.”
DMR crafted its plans for the municipal center after a collaborative approach that included input from more than 200 residents and township and county officials, according to a news release. The project embraces a contemporary style with spaces for community artwork and items of historical and cultural importance, providing a space for residents, business owners, employees, and visitors.
The firm also highlighted design choices such as seamless transitions between the interior and exterior, citing the use of the same wood materials for columns supporting the exterior colonnade inside the library. The space will also feature glass wall dividers to allow for transparency and emphasize connection and stone floors and counters inside that reflect the zinc cladding used on the building’s facade.
“It is refreshing to work with a group of elected and civic leaders who take such pride in their community, and we’ve enjoyed creatively interpreting their functional and aesthetic needs,” said Pradeep Kapoor, a partner at DMR Architects. “It continues to be an honor to work with The Somerset County Improvement Authority and Montgomery Township.”
The entire building will be ADA-accessible and built to achieve certification on the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design scale, with a roof that allows for the future installation of solar panels, DMR said. The grounds of the 45-acre complex will preserve the view from Route 206 with multiple green spaces for residents and visitors to enjoy, outdoor meeting places, a rain garden and an outdoor event space.
Additionally, the parking lot will feature multiple electric vehicle charging stations.
“This project shows how well local and county government can work together, providing state-of-the=art municipal offices and innovative library services that will benefit the community for decades,” said Somerset County Freeholder Melonie Marano, who serves as a liaison to both the Somerset County Improvement Authority and Somerset County Library System. “This is truly a joint effort, with Somerset County Improvement authority financing helping build a municipal complex for Montgomery businesses and families that will house a library for residents here and in surrounding communities to enjoy.”
