The iconic atrium at Bell Works in Holmdel. – Courtesy: Somerset Development
By Joshua Burd
Somerset Development has tapped Structure Tone Inc. to oversee construction plans, renovations and subcontractor management at Bell Works, the mixed-use redevelopment at the sprawling former Bell Labs complex in Holmdel.
As the lead contractor for Bell Works, the firm will assume management of all ongoing construction projects in the 2 million-square-foot building, Somerset Development said in a news release. Immediate renovations include a skylight replacement initiative, which will implement photovoltaic panels that will convert solar energy into electricity and reduce the property’s environmental footprint while maximizing its overall energy efficiency.
Structure Tone also will begin to implement a new safety infrastructure throughout the massive building.
“It’s an honor to have been chosen as the lead construction manager for Bell Works,” Erik Sletteland, vice president for Structure Tone in New Jersey, said in a prepared statement. “To work on the preservation and revitalization of such an iconic and storied property is truly a rare opportunity. We are excited to participate in bringing Somerset Development’s vision to life.”
Structure Tone has managed other large-scale initiatives in the area, including the construction of Rutgers University’s new business school and the interior fit-out of Prudential Financial’s 20-story headquarters in downtown Newark, along with renovations to the MetLife Tower, St. Patrick’s Cathedral and the Macy’s flagship store in New York City. The firm said its global network of construction professionals will play a role in the redevelopment of the sprawling Bell Works complex.
“After entering leases with nine tenants this year alone, Bell Works is at a critical point in its redevelopment,” Somerset Development President Ralph Zucker said. “We chose Structure Tone because they shared in our vision for creating a true Metroburb here in Holmdel, where the built environment both captures and inspires the vitality of its tenants and visitors.”
The assignment follows several high-profile leases at the landmark complex, including a roughly 340,000-square-foot lease with iCIMS. The company, which will serve as the building’s anchor tenant, is a provider of software-as-a-service talent acquisition solutions for human resources functions.
