News Release: June 11, 2002When Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. created its $500 million Hopewell Township Campus in northern Mercer County, it created a world-class development befitting its reputation as a leading international financial services company. The project's commitment to environmental protection, architectural style and the local economy earned Merrill Lynch Hopewell a 2002 New Good Neighbor Award.
"Merrill Lynch's 450-acre Hopewell site provides an attractive, state-of-the-art workplace for more than 6,000 employees," said Cathy Frank-White, president and CEO of the Greater Mercer County Chamber of Commerce, who nominated Merrill Lynch. "The site offers a campus environment set among natural and made wetlands and rolling fields, while providing Merrill Lynch with the space necessary to accommodate its day-to-day operations."
"Not many construction projects result in more trees and create more acres of wetlands, but that is exactly what Merrill Lynch has done in Hopewell," NJBIA President Joe Gonzalez said. "This project shows that development can have positive environmental impacts as well as a positive economic impact."
Merrill Lynch's campus design was conceived around the concept of a "town center," with eight major buildings grouped around a "main street" and a grassy common. There are also four accessory buildings and at an ancillary location, there is a separate building that houses a childcare center.The buildings themselves are designed to reflect a collegiate style of architecture-red brick walls, arches and stone gables. Detailed window framing and precast concrete ornaments give the buildings a friendly appearance while high-pitched metal roofs not only complete the building form, but also hide mechanical equipment from view.
Architect Thompson, Ventulett, Stainback & Associates, Inc. of Atlanta, Georgia, and builder Hunt Construction Group of Indianapolis, Indiana, took pains to preserve the natural environment. Forty-four percent of the campus is dedicated to open space. More than 3,000 trees were planted, while only 75 were removed. Seven acres of man-made wetlands were created while only a fraction of one acre was disturbed during construction.
There can be no doubt about this project's economic impact. Construction pumped $500 million into the local economy and created 1,000 construction jobs. Merrill Lynch will generate another $500 million annually through its operating costs and support more than 6,000 full-time jobs.
Merrill Lynch's Hopewell project was honored June 11 at NJBIA's Annual New Good Neighbor Awards Luncheon at the Sheraton at Woodbridge Place in Iselin.
The New Good Neighbor Awards program, now celebrating its 42nd year, recognizes newly built or renovated facilities that have created jobs and contributed to the quality of life in their communities. This year's 13 winners were selected from 45 projects that represent more than $1 billion in combined construction value and will house 13,600 permanent full-time workers.
A panel of independent judges painstakingly reviewed the projects and selected the winners based on architectural merit, jobs created and community involvement. Project nominations were made by a variety of people, including mayors, a state senator, local economic development officials and a chamber of commerce president.
