Rutgers campus ets a face-lift with Hillier's help.

Hillier Architecture, a global architecture firm based in Princeton, N.J., recently completed work on a new residence hall for Rutgers University. A dedication ceremony for Rockoff Hall University Apartments was held on Wednesday, August 3 in the plaza of the new student apartment building, located at the corner of George Street and New Street in downtown New Brunswick. The $55 million facility was developed by New Brunswick Development Corporation (Devco) in partnership with Pennrose Properties and Hillier. The 12-story building comprises 186 fully furnished apartment suites for 671 Rutgers students and street level retail space to include a fitness center and several retail stores, among them 7-Eleven, Cold Stone Creamery, Port City Java and Douglass Pizza.

In September, 2004, Hillier conducted a nationwide survey of architects, facilities managers, planners and admissions officers at leading universities to learn how residence halls can attract students and support the university's mission. The study, "Residence Halls' The Tip Factor," led the architects toward the mixed-use design of the building.

"What we discovered is there's a real demand on college campuses today for apartment-style residence halls," says Ron Weston, a principal with the firm. "With its central New Brunswick location, well-designed suites and retail and recreational components, Rockoff Hall marries the best elements of campus life and urban living, making it a place where students will really want to live." Rich Kahn, Hillier Architecture's project manager, noted that "the design and construction of this mixeduse building were carried out in response to a very aggressive schedule. Our design team worked closely with Devco, Pennrose Properties, Rutgers University and AJD Construction to deliver the project." Rockoff Hall is named in honor of Alvin J. Rockoff, a graduate of the College and a longtime advocate for the revitalization of New Brunswick. The August 3 ceremony included a ribbon-cutting and Media tours.