GLASSBORO, N.J. (KYW Newsradio) — Rowan University has announced a $690 million, 220-acre expansion plan of its west campus in Glassboro, New Jersey.
The project includes a hotel, retail stores, a health care office space, and a new manufacturing innovation center, as well as a “wellness village” with 1,000 homes, including age-restricted and assisted living units.
“When you bring people of all ages and orientations together in one place that is safe, secure, beautiful and healthy, everybody will benefit, and that’s really the beauty of this,” said Rowan President Dr. Ali Houshmand.
“We have exercise, nutrition, wellness. All of these things can come in here. Students can get internships. People can live in here. And it would be a magnificent place.”
Rowan’s growth has been a mission for Congressman Donald Norcross, who long dreamed of bringing a top-notch school to South Jersey.
“The seats were not here for our children to go to school,” he said. “We made that change when it became a research institution, a medical school. And as they say, the rest is history.”
Rowan is also getting a new $1 million concrete 3D printer to construct new buildings more efficiently.
Houshmand said there are no plans to slow down this growth anytime soon. He noted the secret to Rowan’s success has centered on earning the trust of parents.
“They know that we take care of them,” he said. “We give them good education. We don’t burden them with massive amounts of debt. They are safe. We return these kids to their parents as successful citizens.”
Rowan currently has about 25,000 students. Houshman hopes to someday reach 40,000.
The project still needs approval from Glassboro and Harrison Township in Gloucester County. Rowan wants to begin construction within the year.