A former corporate park has been reborn as a “work resort” and mixed-use destination neighborhood in New Jersey.
The lines between where people work, live and socialize are growing increasingly blurry. As workplace expectations evolve, nice spaces that offer desks and conference rooms are no longer enough. Companies are seeking environments that also provide meaningful amenities, wellness opportunities, and access to recreation and community.
In response, developers are rethinking the traditional suburban office campus model that existed for decades. To remain competitive with urban markets, these formerly single-purpose office parks must evolve into dynamic destinations that support productivity, well-being and social connection.
Taking Steps Toward Reinvention
Since acquiring the property in 1981, The Connell Company, a privately owned and managed real estate, hospitality and equipment leasing firm, has shaped The Park into what it is today: a 185-acre mixed-use neighborhood in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey, where people can work, socialize, stay overnight, live and dine, all in one easily accessible destination.
Prior to 2018, The Park was known as Connell Corporate Park, a single-use campus containing five office buildings that reflected the workplace norms of the era, designed primarily for efficiency rather than experience. By the mid-2010s, broader market forces were beginning to challenge this office product, especially in New Jersey. The Connell Company observed rising suburban office vacancies and a generational shift toward urban environments offering elevated amenities and walkable access to lifestyle experiences. Recognizing this evolving market, the development team had to make a pivotal decision: Sell or reinvent.
They chose reinvention, investing $500 million to transform the campus into one of New Jersey’s newest destination neighborhoods.
The campus’s first step toward mixed-use transformation began in 2010 with the addition of a 115,000-square-foot Life Time fitness club, introducing a lifestyle-driven amenity to what had previously been a traditional office environment. In 2018, that evolution continued with the development of a 176-room Embassy Suites by Hilton. To anchor the hotel lobby, the team introduced Grain & Cane, a chef-driven restaurant and bar, alongside a Starbucks featuring an enhanced lounge experience. Together, these additions served as an early proof of concept, demonstrating that the broader public would embrace new, hospitality-oriented uses within the campus.
The District at The Park, a mixed-use neighborhood that caters to the daily lives of workers while also attracting the surrounding public, was developed from 60 acres of previously unutilized land. Courtesy of The Connell Company
The project’s next phase began with large-scale renovation of the office buildings, which involved creating hospitality-driven spaces that promote work/life balance as well as mental and physical wellness. The Connell Company invested approximately $90 million into upgrading the physical design of the buildings and adding high-end amenities such as gyms, flexible workspaces, game rooms, and outdoor parks and a trail system.
The next step was incorporating a fully integrated hospitality team to support the spaces with elevated culinary offerings, catering and events services, and community activations, hosting over 150 social events each year. Today, The Park is home to approximately 9,000 workers (who average 3.5 days on-site per week) across 44 companies. As a result, the former corporate park has evolved into a “work resort,” where each space prioritizes experience, flexibility and well-being. Amenities were created not just to be accessible but also to embed seamlessly into workers’ routines. The upgraded office buildings were branded as Round Table (RT) Workspaces, which live under The Connell Company’s Round Table Resort product, defined by elevated amenities, services and design.
The District at The Park
The vision for The Park went beyond the office buildings and the initial mixed-use expansion. The Connell Company saw an opportunity to develop 60 acres of previously unutilized land into a mixed-use neighborhood known as The District at The Park, where everything is within a 20-minute walk.
The idea was to bring the energy and convenience of the urban environments that today’s workforce gravitates toward into a suburban setting by thoughtfully programming the campus with beautifully designed spaces featuring lifestyle retail, wellness concepts, and elevated dining and entertainment. Central to this vision was expanding the hospitality-driven services and amenities that were already embedded within the workspaces and integrating them throughout the entire experience of The Park.
The Connell Company planned and designed The District at The Park to both enhance the daily lives of workers and attract the surrounding public, with construction beginning in fall 2023. The expansion included two luxury apartment buildings, additional dining and entertainment options, lifestyle retail, a 20,000-square-foot spa, and new outdoor parks and amenities.
To support these diverse uses, the development team designed The Park with ample free parking consisting of street parking, surface lots and parking garages to accommodate retail visitors, workers and hotel guests. The campus offers approximately 3,000 total spots, including around 50 dedicated EV spaces, ensuring convenience while helping alleviate parking challenges in the surrounding area.
Entertainment, Residential and Retail
The developers worked to curate a tenant mix and anchor uses that would support the current working clientele while also attracting future residents and the surrounding public. With the backing of an already functional and talented culinary and hospitality team, The Connell Company decided to build a dedicated 60,000-square-foot “entertainment building” that will house three of its own concepts later this year.
A newly constructed, 60,000-square-foot “entertainment building” is the latest addition to The District at The Park. Courtesy of The Connell Company
Emberside Brewery will be a destination for on-site crafted beers. Rosa Azul, a Mexican restaurant and taqueria, will offer full service and window service that connects to an indoor/outdoor garden and a playground area. A speakeasy-style venue called BASH, featuring a wood-fired steakhouse, will include event spaces, multiple bars, 14 duckpin bowling lanes and a gaming area with pool tables, dart boards, shuffleboards and more.
A major phase of expanding the campus involves adding elevated living spaces, including two luxury apartment buildings containing 328 residential units, known as Round Table (RT) Residences. The first will open in August, with preleasing starting in May; the second is slated to open in late fall 2027. Designed by Minno & Wasko Architects and Planners in collaboration with David M. Sullivan Inc., each residence will feature modern finishes and a palette of neutral, calming tones. Residences will be highlighted by floor-to-ceiling windows, contemporary quartz countertops and wood-plank flooring.
As the second branch under the Round Table Resort, RT Residences will offer the same extensive amenity collection as seen within RT Workspaces, including a fitness center, game rooms with multisport simulators, and coworking spaces. Additionally, the residential product will include entertainment lounges and outdoor decks connected to an outdoor pool with cabanas and lounge seating.
The already established uses within The District at The Park allowed the development team to attract additional high-end retailers. This includes a 20,000-square-foot, New York-based spa offering amenities like saunas, steam rooms and hot/cold pools; Four Spoons Ice Cream Company, a family-owned ice cream shop offering more than 30 super-premium flavors; Doner Shack, a Mediterranean-inspired concept serving street-food favorites and kebabs; Cafe Exchange, a two-story social cafe offering premium coffee, food and an evening wine bar; Prime IV Hydration & Wellness, a modern wellness facility within a spa-like environment; Dogtopia, which will provide daycare, overnight and holiday boarding, and premium spa services for dogs; and Greatness Wins, an elevated athletic apparel brand founded by Chris Riccobono, Derek Jeter and Misty Copeland that will open its first flagship location along District Drive.
Remaining Relevant
The evolution of The Park is more than physical redevelopment of an existing product. It is a rethinking of how suburban environments can successfully address shifting societal wants and needs.
By blending hospitality, wellness, experiential design and elevated mixed uses, The Connell Company has created a suburban New Jersey destination where work, life and community are intentionally intertwined. In the process, The Park has become an example of how traditional office parks can transform and remain relevant in a rapidly shifting market.
Shane Connell is executive vice president at The Connell Company. John Dionis is the company’s managing director of real estate and development.
Engaging the OutdoorsOne important design element involved creating easily accessible and programmable outdoor spaces. The goal was to create a destination for anyone wanting to be outside, regardless of anything else happening at The Park. The Connell Company invested approximately $40 million in experiential outdoor environments, including three signature parks: The South Grove, a 7-acre green space featuring outdoor games, seating and workstations. The Lawn, an event-driven venue with seasonal programming, from summer movie nights and outdoor concerts to winter ice skating. The Trout Park, a dedicated playground featuring Monstrum-designed play equipment in the shape of New Jersey’s state fish. In addition, a 3-mile walking trail winds throughout the 185-acre property. There are plans to expand the South Grove and add sport courts for additional public amenities. |
