Jersey City’s Harborside complex reveals waterfront outdoor space and perks like Smorgasburg

Jersey City’s office complex Harborside hopes to appeal to tenants post-pandemic by offering a number of health and wellness amenities, part of a nearly complete renovation. Developer of the waterfront site Mack-Cali on Monday unveiled the latest phase of the Harborside campus makeover, highlighting new public spaces, upcoming cultural events, and the launch of Smorgasburg’s first-ever New Jersey location.

“Harborside’s premier office spaces, top-tier amenities and abundant recreational areas, coupled with its waterfront access, close proximity to public transit and ample on-site parking, make it an ideal destination for workers, visitors and locals alike,” Mahbod Nia, CEO of Mack-Cali, said. “With these latest improvements, Harborside is well-positioned to be the workplace solution for the future as office life across the tri-state area is reinvigorated.”

In the late 1990s, Mack-Cali acquired the buildings Harborside 1, 2, and 3, the main components of the office complex, as 6sqft previously reported. The 1920s-built buildings originally served as storage space for the Pennsylvania Railroad.

A significant part of the overhaul is at Harborside 1, a nine-story first-class office building that anchors the development. Upgrades at the building include a new facade, reimagined lobby that connects to retail space, and “significant infrastructure upgrades,” according to a press release.

The building also features direct access to the site’s waterfront boardwalk and a private outdoor terrace on the fourth floor with even more sweeping views of the Hudson River. Harborside 1 is expected to welcome tenants by the end of the year, as the New York Post first reported.

Mack-Cali is emphasizing the design of the complex, with column-free floorplans and flexible workspaces, both indoor and out, as a key draw for tenants in this new age of office spaces.

New dining options and cultural events are also part of Mack-Cali’s broader plan to bring back workers to the office. Joining the food hall District Kitchen, which opened at Harborside 3 in 2019, will be a new Whole Foods store and the open-air market Smorgasburg, which will run every Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. starting May 29.

“Ziggy,” Image credit: Hou de Sousa

A pedestrian-only plaza will also debut this summer, providing a COVID-safe outdoor space that will offer art exhibitions and community events, like yoga and live performances. Ziggy, a kaleidoscope-inspired art installation designed by Hou de Sousa, will open at the shared atrium.

“The waterfront is one of Jersey City’s many unique assets, and I’m confident Mack-Cali’s reimagined Harborside will not only be a valuable addition to our growing business community, but now with all its additional activations and programming, the local neighborhood will also benefit greatly,” Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop said. “We appreciate Mack-Cali’s ongoing commitment to creating a best-in-class mixed-use environment for all of our residents and visitors.”

RELATED: 

• Jersey City set to get its first Whole Foods at Harborside
• Jersey City’s Harborside gets a new food hall featuring 13 local vendors
• $350M redevelopment of century-old Textile Building reimagines office space with fresh air and greenery

Images courtesy of Mack-Cali unless otherwise noted