WHIPPANY, N.J., Oct. 18, 2016 – The multi-million-dollar adaptive reuse of a former powerhouse structure at The Crossings at Jefferson Park has introduced a stand-alone amenities center for tenants at the 525,000-square-foot, Class A office campus in Whippany. Aptly named The Powerhouse, the building opened this month, featuring enhanced gourmet food services, a multi-function lounge, conference room and a health and wellness center.
Vision Real Estate Partners and Rubenstein Partners, the property’s joint-venture ownership, retained FLIK Hospitality Group for the planning and operation of The Powerhouse. The 11,000-square-foot building operates Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. for food service and open until 8 p.m. for fitness, providing breakfast and lunch with a coffee and juice bar, gourmet food stations and daily specials. The food component includes indoor and open-air seating with a covered trellis and roll-up doors, as well as an outdoor patio. The business lounge features casual seating and WiFi. And the 2,300-square-foot health and wellness center offers state-of-the-art equipment, free weights, and locker rooms with showers.
The Powerhouse furthers The Crossings’ distinctive work/play environment. “This property emphasizes spaces and services that foster not only productive, collaborative workplaces, but also personal fulfillment,” noted Vision Real Estate Partners’ Sam Morreale, founder and managing partner. “The Powerhouse is an exciting addition. The building is fantastic – it has become the centerpiece of this campus.”
The structure’s exterior features sleek, contemporary façade elements with stained masonry, composite panels with wood finishes, metal accents and louvered window screens. Inside, a “town hall” environment is punctuated by open ceilings with exposed ductwork and modern finishes. The Powerhouse is located close to The Crossings’ bike share station and bike storage, and 1.3 miles of pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure – which connects directly to Morris County Parks Commission’s Patriots Path.
“The amenities center is the final phase of our revitalization and rebranding of The Crossings at Jefferson Park,” Morreale noted. “This campus, highlighted by rolling berms, mature trees and abundant landscaping, has been redesigned specifically to promote health, wellness and sustainability.”
The Crossings exemplifies the second-generation potential of New Jersey’s aging office inventory, according to Morreale. The 65-acre campus, which originally housed a highly sensitive ITT division and later was a data center for Bear Stearns, includes enhanced electrical, HVAC and fiber infrastructure. Today its three office buildings serve as home to Arthur J. Gallagher, Barclays Capital, JP Morgan Chase and Lord Abbett.
Cushman & Wakefield currently is marketing 100,000 square feet in the property’s 200 Building, 25,000 square feet in the 300 Building, and two full floors totaling approximately 80,000 square feet in the 400 Building – all three structures were renovated as part of the repositioning. The Crossings at Jefferson Park is easily accessible from routes 24 and 10 and I-287.