NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. (WCBS 880) — New Jersey celebrated a ceremonial groundbreaking Thursday on a massive new research center.
The 550,000-square-foot complex in New Brunswick will house the New Jersey Innovation and Technology Hub, or "The Hub" for short.
"The Hub will be that rare stand alone center where clinicians and researchers from across the pharma and life science sectors can have immediate and daily access to academic and industry experts as they fine tune their advances," said Gov. Phil Murphy.
The governor, alongside CEOs and state officials broke ground on the project that will house the new Rutgers Translational Research Facility, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, and facilities for Hackensack Meridian Health and RWJBarnabas Health.
"It will contain not just much-needed new lab space, but also much-needed incubator space. It will be a place where doctors and researchers will work shoulder to shoulder on innovative treatments and solutions," Murphy said.
The $665 million project is expected to be completed by 2024.
Murphy said it's a project that will keep New Jersey living up to its nickname as "the medicine chest to the world."
"It is here The Hub where we will leverage and put on clear display and under one roof everything New Jersey offers — our world-leading institutions of higher education and our world-class health networks," the governor said.