By Joshua Burd
Gilbane Building Co. is moving its New Jersey office to downtown Newark, in a nod to the construction firm’s growing ties to the city as well as its recent expansion in the state.
The multinational contractor announced that it has relocated to One Riverfront Plaza, also known as the Newark Legal Center, from its longtime office in downtown New Brunswick. The move will allow it to better integrate with clients and community stakeholders in Newark, where it manages construction projects for the likes of the Newark Parking Authority, Boraie Development LLC and the New Jersey Institute of Technology.
“To have Gilbane — one of the nation’s leading construction companies — move its New Jersey headquarters to Newark speaks volumes for the commercial growth of our city and the scope of our construction market,” Newark Mayor Ras Baraka said. “Gilbane’s move sends a strong signal that Newark is a welcome location for companies and their employees.”
Gilbane employees are set to complete the move this spring, the firm said in a news release. The new home provides its growing employee base with a more centralized hub for operations and amenities, all within a short walk of Newark Penn Station and the city’s other offerings.
The contractor has been working in New Jersey for more than 50 years and has developed strong ties to the state’s largest city. Among its most high-profile assignments in Newark is One Rector Street, a 168-unit apartment tower developed by Boraie and NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal.
Gilbane is providing construction management services for the redevelopment, which involved demolishing an existing six-story building to make way for the 267,666-square-foot project.
“Having personally been involved in the construction of the Prudential Center, I am very excited for my family’s company move to Newark,” said William J. Gilbane III, senior vice president and managing director of the New York division of Gilbane Building Co. “We are very excited about the position Newark holds in the growth of the region.”
The privately held firm — one of the top-ranked contractors in New Jersey, according to Engineering News-Record New York — has additional clients in the state such as Celgene Corp., Hackensack University Medical Center, Kerry Ingredients & Flavors, Landmark Properties, Rutgers University, Summit Medical Group and The Rockefeller Group. Gilbane also handles corporate interiors for a host of Fortune 500 companies.
Its leadership team in the state includes Dan Shea, vice president and manager of the New Jersey office, and Christopher Cornick, director of business development.
The company also highlighted its involvement in community organizations such as the ACE Mentor Program of New Jersey, the New Jersey Performing Arts Center’s Business Partnership, Rebuilding Together, the United Way and others.
“Newark has great energy, tremendous resources in its diverse workforce and over 40,000 college students, and construction opportunities with a multitude of Fortune 500 Companies, three universities, cultural organizations, and a tremendous amount of planned growth in the commercial, retail and residential markets,” Shea said. “I am excited about our move and looking forward to getting involved in the community.”
