Yes any updates on Rutgers campus plans and projects?
and it would be helpful if people wanting to discuss Hillsboro projects would take a hike from this thread.
OT: Rutgers Facilities Construction Projects; Status of 2030 Plan, Brower Demo, New CA Quad, etc.
- Thread starter Leonard23
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and it would be helpful if people wanting to discuss Hillsboro projects would take a hike from this thread.
playing around with our AI friends, look what we can have with some paint and landscaping
Instead of landscaping the area it should be blown out and that spot could be a nice entrance rotunda type thing. You could have some concessions, food and merchandise, along with a bunch more bathrooms.
was going for realism/no structural changes. but you can upload a pic to ChatGPT and ask it to do whatever you want (and even ask for a price tag)
As a Cook grad I’m all over our LA folks doing things around campus as either work study or some sort of capstone project. There could even be a competition and the winning design is implemented.
Pick a facility or building every year and spruce them up in-house.
ignore the AI slop, but there are other simple things that can be done that don't include a billion dollar price tag - some of the signs welcoming you to campus can be a lot nicer (im sure theres plenty in the admin who agree, just need to do it)
Totally agree. Yesterday, I sent a letter to the newest Rutgers Board of Governors member, a former president of Devco, asking the university to get moving on this part of campus.
Here is the letter.
Please post the reply. It’s criminal to have a construction fence in the heart of campus, for years, with no progress. Same for Ford Hall. At least the exterior isn’t an eyesore at Ford
I can’t see what a student in Mettler, or Senior street, would purchase from a Target on a weekly basis. A Wawa would be packed. College Ave needs a dining hall, a fitness center, some updated housing, along with a nice green space in that area
I can’t see what a student in Mettler, or Senior street, would purchase from a Target on a weekly basis. A Wawa would be packed. College Ave needs a dining hall, a fitness center, some updated housing, along with a nice green space in that area
dont know how receptive they are, but have sent a few suggestions to these folks
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A lot of things have been discussed and suggested on the old Rutgers Issues Board that used to be on this site.
Including renderings of many different ideas and possible projects.
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I'll PM you the reply if I get one.
Wawa does gas stations. Doubtful Rutgers wants a gas station on College Ave.
The Target college stores are set up for college students - groceries, grab-and-go meals, online fulfillment. The problem here is Rutgers might have missed the window when Target was binging on store openings on or next to college campuses.
They have been at Rutgers for years and even many decades. I interviewed Wong in 1998 for a paper I wrote about campus design.
Rutgers needs an entrepreneurial get-it-done new leader to make a difference here. Like a Keli but for improving the built environment on the campus. That's why I sent the letter to Christiana. Devco gets projects done in New Brunswick, including many that benefit Rutgers.
Actually got a response back already to my welcome signage idea, to the effect of "one is already being worked on and they will look into the other as well". So yeah, doesn't hurt to shoot em an email if you have thoughts.
The Welcome sign on the corner of George and Bishop is so old that it's now closer to the latest visual identity font which no longer uses that longer R. They should also replace all of the green street signs with red ones like Somerville has.
I love trees, Voorhees Mall looks great in the fall but we need to trim back the trees and market/leverage the attractive buildings we do have.
If you Google most colleges and look at the images the first ones that show are either an iconic building or beautifully landscaped quads.
Voorhees and Old Queens should be the centerpiece of our campus image and while in many cases they are, they need to be dressed up.
We are an attractive girl going to a party in baggy clothes because we are not quite sure of our identity.
I tried to AI some improvements to current pictures but nothing came out great but here is what I find on the internet, literally not a single picture where you can take in the whole mall with one shot.
If you Google most colleges and look at the images the first ones that show are either an iconic building or beautifully landscaped quads.
Voorhees and Old Queens should be the centerpiece of our campus image and while in many cases they are, they need to be dressed up.
We are an attractive girl going to a party in baggy clothes because we are not quite sure of our identity.
I tried to AI some improvements to current pictures but nothing came out great but here is what I find on the internet, literally not a single picture where you can take in the whole mall with one shot.
I just sent an email to Tate, Wong and Schultz asking about the Master Plan/Brower and the progress towards it
I recently was at Princeton and walking down Nassau St. it dawned on me how Easton Ave could up its game. Really could use the sidewalks redone, pave the street, add some green. Nothing too unrealistic.
New Brunswick actually did redo the sidewalks about 2 years ago. The issue with Easton is the conglomeration of different buildings and the condition of them. The old Teresa's lot has finally been redone after being a weed strewn vacant lot for 15-20 years. However, IMO, it's an ugly, too large, dark building looming over the sidewalk. The Corner Tavern properties are brutal. The family never invested a nickel in the past 40+ years and they now have a weed strewn, vacant lot for 6-7 years now. The facade was literally falling off the front of Hole in the Wall Bagels recently. Allegedly, that will be a new Verve style building in the future.
It's the same going towards St Petes. A hodgepodge collection of older properties with some retail mixed in.
Honestly, Rutgers isn't much better on College Ave. Many of their older small "houses" that were long ago converted to offices have peeling paint and just look tired. They need to redo and expand their sidewalks. There are simply too many people walking on them so the grass is gone on each side, making it look crappy. A car drove thru the fencing near Scott Hall over 3 1/2 months ago, fence still not repaired, just some yellow tape hanging there. I have seen more effort since Tate got here.
It's the same going towards St Petes. A hodgepodge collection of older properties with some retail mixed in.
Honestly, Rutgers isn't much better on College Ave. Many of their older small "houses" that were long ago converted to offices have peeling paint and just look tired. They need to redo and expand their sidewalks. There are simply too many people walking on them so the grass is gone on each side, making it look crappy. A car drove thru the fencing near Scott Hall over 3 1/2 months ago, fence still not repaired, just some yellow tape hanging there. I have seen more effort since Tate got here.
Verve is very nice and a big brick paved sidewalk. We'll take another of those.
I want to give this 1000 likes. I've been screaming to anyone that would listen that the signage around campus is absolutely awful and decades outdated. Such a low hanging fruit to improve the campus appeal and pride. Which are very important . And becoming even more important for higher education EXPERIENCE going forward as the content portion of learning is becoming commoditized with AI.
I love the design and lighting you came up with using AI. Those look fantastic and seem it would be a relatively low price tag to accomplish.
But the signs all over campus need a refresh. Easy to do, big impact.
Even the campus signage on Rt 18 should be updated to include a "R" inside the sign before the campus name. But I know there's a TON more bureaucratic hoops for anything on highways.
a recent reply from the President in regards to all the things we care about
President Tate is indeed a people person. Pres. Holloway was OK at this, but Pres Tate is leaps and bounds better. Barchi was terrible.
Time to knock down most of those houses and build real buildings.
speaking of Rt 18, this Rutgers exits sign has been washed out for like 5 years now; I'm on a crusade to improve the simple things and have sent a request to NJDOT
That’s aweomee. You’re the man !!!
Do the AI mockup where the Rutgers “R” logo fits into the sign right before the campus name. Would be a great easy touch for the signs
the bridge should be painted and block Rs in the supports
I've got 50 gallons of Scarlet paint, masking tape, wide paint brushes, and coveralls. You bring the beverages!
ha in!
but seriously, cannot imagine why this hasn't been done to clean up that eyesore. Tate needs to get on this with the town/state
When I was in school, two guys from my fraternity took the "Rutgers - The State University" sign from the Turnpike. Maybe it's time to re-activate the team.
Now slide that top part over so the Block R replaces the regular white R.
That would make it really pop.
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Rename the New Brunswick station the Rutgers New Brunswick station.
Rutgers is the official sponsor of the station. Why not take it a step further and rename the station.
The DC metro station in College Park, Maryland, is the College Park - University of Maryland station.
The MBTA station next to Boston College is the Boston College station.
The LA metro station next to USC is the Echo Park/USC station.
Rutgers is the official sponsor of the station. Why not take it a step further and rename the station.
The DC metro station in College Park, Maryland, is the College Park - University of Maryland station.
The MBTA station next to Boston College is the Boston College station.
The LA metro station next to USC is the Echo Park/USC station.
Same for the Red Line stop at The Catholic University of America.
New Brunswick gets 100+ NJ Transit trains stopping there per day, plus 10+ Amtrak trains. Unlike NJ Transit, Amtrak ridership is skyrocketing. New Brunswick station Amtrak passengers are up 5x since 2019.
This is far higher exposure than other train stations next to universities.
Agree. I don’t think this is a heavy ask. But IMO it’s a worthy one.
The brain trust in this thread (and I mean that as a high compliment) has better ideas and execution than the leadership of Rutgers. That is sad.
I met with the mayor last month about this. Planting trees maybe every 30 feet from St Peter’s hospital to the train station. Gave him a detailed plan where we plant trees that turn red in the fall. I told him if we are short on funding it I would personally help fundraise to get it done. I will stay on them about it.
The sidewalks are the homeowner responsibility
It’s incredibly difficult. I try often. Bottom line is those dumpy houses cost too much and are on too small a lot. You either need a Verve developer to buy up 8 at a time and go up 8 stories or you can build a small little mixed use building on a 25x100 lot. I am working with a client on one right now for next year and I helped convert apartments above 56 and 58 Easton in the last 2 years