Groundbreaking Held for Two New Buildings on Campus

Middlesex County leaders, state and federal officials, and community partners gathered at Middlesex College on January 21 to celebrate the groundbreaking of two new buildings that will change the landscape of the College’s Edison campus.

An open-air, multipurpose community venue and a new Student Center are part of the Middlesex County Community, Innovation, and Opportunity Strategic Investment Plan and will offer new spaces for education, sports, and entertainment for County residents.

Speakers at the event included Governor Phil Murphy, Speaker of the Assembly Craig Coughlin, and Middlesex County Board of County Commissioners Director Ronald Rios.

Also on hand at the event were students from the Middlesex College Hospitality, Culinary Arts, and Dietetics (HCD) Programs along with Director of HCD Programs Joel Barohn; HCD Professors Andy Rubin, Brian McInerney, and Cindy Braun; and HCD staff members Mike Smith and Patty Gonzalez. The new Student Center will feature a state-of-the-art Culinary Lab and a fully operational restaurant that will provide students with hands-on, real-world experiences.

Key features of the multipurpose community venue, which will serve as the future home of Rutgers baseball, include the design of a 3,500-seat, state-of-the-art facility that can be used for for concerts, cultural events, and sports such as soccer and lacrosse. The venue will meet Big Ten, NCAA, Minor League Baseball, and FIFA standards, ensuring top-tier accommodations for both athletes and spectators.

The new Student Center will be a 35,000-square-foot hub of student culture that will include game rooms, meeting and study spaces, and a fully operational restaurant where Middlesex College’s HCD students will be able to hone career-ready skills.

“Middlesex College is proud to be an integral part of the Middlesex County community and is grateful for the support of the Middlesex County Board of County Commissioners that enables us to live up to and lean into our College mission. The entire Middlesex College community – employees, students, alumni, and Trustees – are excited that the CIO Plan has reached this milestone,” said Middlesex College President Mark McCormick. “These amazing additions to our campus will provide new and enhanced opportunities for our students to learn, study together, and engage in a wide range of extracurricular activities including athletics and student clubs.”

Read the full press release on the Middlesex County website.