New Newark Riverfront Stadium ready in just six months.

Through the winter freeze, spring rains and summer heat wave, Century 21 Construction of Clifton, NJ has worked nonstop to ensure that Riverfront Stadium in Newark, NJ would be game-ready this summer and completed by year-end.

The company, which is construction manager for the new ballpark, joined county and local officials and Newark Bears' players and fans to celebrate their progress on July 16th, opening day, along with Prismatic Corp., the project's general contractor.

"We were proud to be a part of the festivities marking baseball's return to Newark," said Joseph Marino, president of Century 21 Construction. "Our activities have required a tremendous amount of coordination among all the prime contractors."

The seven-acre stadium is the latest element in Newark's commercial renaissance. a joint venture between the City of Newark and the County of Essex. Bounded by Broad Street, McCarter Highway (Route 21), and Division Street, it is several blocks north of the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJ-PAC), which has become a catalyst for the on-going revitalization of the city, and Riverfront Stadium continues the progress.

Beyond baseball, Riverfront Stadium is a multi-use facility that will accommodate more than 6,200 fans and be capable of hosting football and soccer games, concerts and a variety of special events. Century 21 Construction has supervised and directed all phases of construction for the project, and the company is now working to complete the remaining components.

"Following opening day, we are focusing our efforts on the construction at a variety of commissaries, plus a number of spectator amenities throughout the stadium," Marine noted. This includes a museum for baseball memorabilia, a novelty shop and separate recreation rooms on the concourse level for children. In addition, 20 luxury suites and a party deck on the press-box level, with space for 20 additional suites, will enhance the stadium's appeal for spectators and corporate events. A future phase also may include a parking garage.

Century 21 Construction has worked closely both with Prismatic and with the architect for the stadium. HOK Sport, the sports facilities group of Hellmuth, Obata & Kassabaum, Inc. of Kansas City, Missouri. HOK has designed such distinctive major league baseball parks as Camden Yards in Baltimore, Jacobs Field in Cleveland, and Coors Field in Denver.

A full-service construction company specializing in construction management and general contracting assignments, Century 21 Construction has been involved in a number of other Newark projects contributing to the city's revival. The firm is also serving as construction manager for the historic restoration and renovation of the Essex County Courthouse in a joint venture with Tishman Construction of New York and New Jersey. In addition, Century 21 Construction previously worked in Newark on the completion of a $50 million dollar expansion and renovation of Newark Beth Israel Medical Center.

Since 1994, the company has completed in excess of $170 million worth of new construction projects and renovations consisting of medical, office, retail, education, governmental and residential facilities.

Among other significant assignments handled by Century 21 Construction. the company recently served as construction manager and/or general contractor for a number of prestigious assignments. These include the 108,000 square-foot renovation of the St. Barnabas Health Care System's Corporate Headquarters in West Orange. NJ; the 175,000 square-foot corporate headquarters expansion and renovation of Cerberus Pyrotronics in Florham Park. NJ: 820,000 square feet of industrial space for ProLogis Trust at Cranbury Business in Cranbury. NJ: the 70,000 square-foot expansion of Sher Distributing Company's distribution center in Totowa, NJ; a 260-student dormitory building and dining facility at Ramapo College in Mahwah, NJ: a 65,000 square-for Shop-Rite in Palisades, NJ: and a 58,000 square-foot Shop-Rite in Bloomfield, NJ.

Other public projects have included the construction of the Jersey City State office building and garage in Jersey City; the North Brunswick Government Complex in North Brunswick: the Somerset County Administrative Building in Somerville; expansion and renovation of the Passaic County Juvenile Detention Center in Haledon; and the nine-story renovation of Union County College in Elizabeth.