The Connell Company announced that construction has begun on its 60,000-square-foot entertainment building located within The District at The Park in Berkeley Heights. The construction is part of a $500 million redevelopment of The Park from a traditional office park into New Jersey’s newest full-service, destination neighborhood.
The building, which is slated for completion in 2026, is the core of The District at The Park, a 60-acre downtown shopping, dining and entertainment area anchored by a walkable main street.
It will include Emberside Brewery, a destination for on-site crafted beers; Rosa Azul, a Mexican restaurant which will boast authentic cuisine and hand-crafted cocktails, as well as a taqueria that will offer window service for the outdoor garden and playground area; and a speakeasy style venue called BASH, featuring a wood-fired steakhouse, thoughtfully designed event spaces and multiple bars, as well as 16 of New Jersey’s first duckpin bowling lanes.
“The District at The Park is at the center of our redevelopment project. Because of this, we wanted to create beautifully designed spaces with concepts that complement each other and encourage people to visit,” Shane Connell, executive vice president at The Connell Company, said. “We are extremely excited about beginning construction on the entertainment building and can’t wait until the public can enjoy each of the concepts coming to The Park.”
Part of The Park’s goal is to create meaningful spaces that connect indoor and outdoor venues seamlessly. The entertainment building will not only be adjacent to a custom playground but will also feature a beautifully designed seating area that transforms from an indoor space to outdoor flawlessly through signature guillotine glass doors designed by Seatle-based Olson Kundig.
“We are working tirelessly to deliver the highest quality spaces, services, and experiences to everyone who steps foot in The Park,” Stephen Kilroy, senior vice president of Hospitality and Marketing at The Connell Company, said. “Working with David M. Sullivan Design firm out of New York City, this new building is designed with the purpose of creating a unified, hospitality-driven experience, for everyone who comes to The Park to live, work, stay, or play. We are thrilled to begin sharing what is to come with the surrounding communities and look forward to sharing more in the near future.”
The Park is a 185-acre campus home to 1.5 million square feet of grade A offices on the campus that host companies like L’Oreal, Fiserv and HP, as well as a 176-room Embassy Suites hotel, Grain & Cane Restaurant, Starbucks, Lifetime Fitness, outdoor walking and jogging trails, and co-working social club Round Table Studios.
