Rutgers–Camden’s $60 million Cooper Street Gateway project broke ground on May 9th, 2024, with a tentative completion date of fall 2026. The project aims to unite 13 lots and 11 buildings along Cooper and Lawrence Streets into a single building, with many uses, including new faculty offices and an event space for the campus.

The project is now approaching its second year, and construction is in full swing, as students and faculty alike have no doubt noticed.

The project is being led by Intech, a Philadelphia-based construction management firm. Andrew Good, the project manager, said that the development is meant to both reinvigorate existing structures and better connect the campus with the surrounding community.

“The project will provide a new life to some buildings that weren’t in great shape,” Good said, adding that it will “really help to tie the campus together with the community around it.”

While the project broke ground in May 2024, construction did not actually begin until March 2025. The first seven months were spent assessing and designing shoring, or temporary structures to support the existing buildings along Cooper Street. Good noted that there were many uncertainties going into the project, and that it was critical to ensure that the existing structures remained standing as parts were demolished.

“There were a lot of unknowns coming into the project about how stable the existing buildings were,” Good said, adding that they, “had a process of having an engineer come through and design a system that would make sure they stayed up as certain parts of them were demolished.”

Following the completion of these temporary structures and the subsequent demolition, Intech began foundation work, which was completed at the beginning of February 2025. The next step was to erect the structural steel, which was wrapped up in early April.

With the foundation and structural steel finished, Good stated that the project is now entering its next phase, which will involve enclosing the building and installing the roof.

“Now we are heading into the steps of the project where we will enclose the outside of the building, and push to get the roof on it, so that interior work can happen,” Good said.

When asked whether the project is on pace for the anticipated fall 2026 opening, Good said delays related to the shoring process have pushed the expected completion to fall 2027.

“The end date has been pushed back a bit,” Good said, adding that it is “because of the need for the engineering process with the shoring of existing buildings.”

Additional logistical challenges have arisen from American Water’s main replacement on Fifth Street, making it difficult for Intech to receive material deliveries, as Fifth Street is a primary delivery route. Good also noted that winter weather caused slowdowns, but that these delays were secondary to the project’s more complex engineering process.

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