The Mansion at Natirar at 400 Natirar Drive in Peapack and Gladstone — Courtesy: Rock Brook
By Joshua Burd
Engineers with Rock Brook have earned high honors for their role in the transformation of the historic Natirar estate in Somerset County into a luxury resort and hospitality venue.
The Monroe-based firm announced this week that the property, located in Peapack and Gladstone, will receive an Engineering Excellence Award from the American Council of Engineering Companies of New York. Rock Brook will share in the recognition — in the Building/Technology Systems category — having spent nearly 20 years providing engineering design services for multiple phases of the project, including mechanical, electrical and plumbing as well as fire protection, information technology, audio-visual and security.
The upgrades and projects at Natirar — which is home to wedding and events center, a farm-to-table restaurant and housing — have included green roofing, renewable energy, specialized lighting systems, e-glass windows and highly efficient HVAC systems in all buildings, according to a news release. The commitment to sustainable measures set the stage for the resort to be the first recipient of a $26 million bond through the state’s new Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy program to help finance improvements.
“Rock Brook’s commitment to coordination with the client, architect and all trades would be paramount in the success of Natirar’s rejuvenation,” the firm wrote in its announcement. “A dedicated design team with a legacy of experience from the inception of the project to present day, would allow for a consistent knowledge of the project’s history. The support from both the state and the community at large has positioned Natirar as a highly desirable destination for years to come.”
The organization will honor Natirar and other projects at its 57th Annual Engineering Excellence Awards Gala, which will take place at the Hilton Midtown in New York City on April 13, 2024. According to the news release, the awards recognize projects that encompass both the public and private sector in roughly a dozen categories, while submissions are judged on a rigorous set of criteria such as complexity, innovation and value to society.
According to Natirar’s website, Kate Macy and Walter Ladd built the property’s 33,000-square-foot brick Tudor mansion more than a century ago. The King of Morocco, Hassan II, purchased a 500-acre section of the estate in 1983 before his family sold it to Somerset County 20 years later.
The 90 acres atop of the property, which includes the mansion, was then leased in a public-private partnership with the intent to restore the generational property.
