Onyx Equities (Onyx), Machine Investment Group (MIG) and Pivot Real Estate Partners (Pivot), the joint venture partnership that owns the Northeast Science and Technology (NEST) Center in Kenilworth, announced the start of renovations that will bring 75,000 square feet of central amenity and common space to the life science and technology-focused campus. The amount for the renovations was undisclosed.
The planned upgrades will focus on the 1.2-million-square-foot 15 NEST building. In updating the shared spaces, the project will establish a collaborative, innovative campus ecosystem for current and future tenants.
Renovation of the existing lobby, common corridors, cafeteria, fitness center and auditorium will transform 15 NEST into a modern, first-class life sciences building that provides centralized amenities that will foster collaboration and innovation across the campus.
Additional new amenities by the Onyx/MIG venture include tenant lounges, private dining facilities, a high-end coffee bar, outdoor glass dome conference rooms and a spa-like mother’s suite.
“NEST was envisioned as a place where world-class science, technology and innovation converge,” said Matthew P. Flath, senior vice president of Asset Management at Onyx Equities. “The researchers and organizations that will soon call this campus home deserve a facility that reflects their ambition.
“With these renovations, we’re setting the stage for an environment that will spark connection, collaboration and discovery for years to come.”
Since Onyx and MIG purchased the campus from Merck in 2023, NEST has become home to several organizations, including the New Jersey Institute of Technology, Revlon and CoreWeave. Under a post-sale agreement, Merck continued operating within 15 NEST through Sept. 2025, maintaining a network of state-of-the-art laboratories and biomanufacturing space.
While these R&D spaces remain highly advanced, the surrounding amenity and common spaces are now being modernized to ensure that the entire facility reflects the same world-class standards of design, technology and functionality that define the rest of the NEST campus.
Renovations will be completed in two phases. The first phase, which focuses on the building’s central lobby and auditorium, is scheduled for completion by mid-2026.
Phase two, which will be spread across the additional shared spaces in the building, is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.
