In Newark, N.J., the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) has officially broken ground on a transformative $336 million redevelopment project for its 12-acre campus, set to span three years.

This initiative aims to deliver 350 mixed-income residential units to downtown Newark, alongside shops, restaurants, outdoor gathering spaces, and an education and community center equipped with professional rehearsal spaces.

Slated for completion in fall 2027, the redesigned campus will feature ArtSide, a mixed-use, mixed-income residential complex. Developed by NJPAC in partnership with LMXD and MCI Collective, and designed by Skidmore Owings & Merrill, ArtSide will include 350 rental units, with 20% designated as affordable housing. Additionally, ArtSide will house retail and cultural spaces, including a new home for public radio station WBGO. The project will also extend Mulberry Street, utilizing an existing NJPAC parking lot.

The Cooperman Family Arts Education and Community Center, designed by Weiss/Manfredi, will encompass 58,000 square feet and serve as a central hub for students, artists, and community partners, built on another NJPAC parking lot.

The reimagined front yard, Chambers Plaza, along with a new space called Essex County Green, will create an outdoor urban park, designed by Future Green.

Renovations for 31 Mulberry Street, a recently acquired NJPAC property, will be overseen by OCA Architects. This building will provide additional space for community gatherings, as well as educational and office facilities for NJPAC.

Moreover, updates will be made to some of NJPAC’s interiors, as well as its eastern façade and loading docks.

“This initiative will not only provide more housing and commercial spaces, but also create vibrant cultural and educational opportunities that will enrich the lives of Newark residents for generations to come,” said New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy in a statement.

The project is supported by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA), which has awarded $200 million in tax credits under the Transformative Aspire Program.

Since its opening in 1997, NJPAC has welcomed over 12 million visitors and is recognized as one of the largest performing arts centers in the country.