Somerset Development aims to turn the once glorious Bell Labs headquarters into a mixed-used town center, Fortune reports.
Designed by Eero Saarinen in the late 1950s, the two-million-sf, steel-and-glass building was one of the best-funded and successful corporate research laboratories in the world.
According to Fortune, President of Somerset Development, Ralph Zucker, swooped in when he found out that a deal to sell the headquarters to Preferred Real Estate Investments, which was planning on demolishing the site, crumbled.
Because there isn’t much demand for massive office buildings, and Zucker has no interest in turning it into a museum, he is planning instead to convert the iconic structure into a vibrant town center filled with restaurants, shops, and offices.
“An urban oasis in the middle of the suburbs,” Zucker told Fortune. “As well as a monument to American ingenuity.”
Read the full story on Fortune.
Related Stories
Mixed-Use | Apr 7, 2021
New mixed-use rental community breaks ground in Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood
The building marks the latest phase of the Oakwood Shores revitalization plan.
Mixed-Use | Mar 24, 2021
Austin United Alliance’s proposal selected for redevelopment of Chicago’s Austin-Laramie State Bank site
The winning scheme was chosen from among six others.
Mixed-Use | Mar 22, 2021
Mixed-use, mixed-income development under construction in Salt Lake City
KTGY Architecture + Planning is designing the project.
Mixed-Use | Mar 9, 2021
47-story residential and office building set for San Francisco’s new ‘Hub’
Solomon Cordwell Buenz designed the project.
Mixed-Use | Mar 8, 2021
Chicago’s South Side to receive new Entrepreneurial and Community Hub
SOM and TnS Studio will lead the design.
Mixed-Use | Feb 24, 2021
Skanska completes primary construction work on Nashville’s largest ever mixed-use project
Gresham Smith is serving as architect-of-record for the entire project and is part of the design team with Pappageorge Haymes and Gensler.
Mixed-Use | Feb 22, 2021
Mixed-use development will occupy former manufacturing industrial site near the Chicopee River
Paul A. Castrucci Architects is designing the project.
Reconstruction & Renovation | Feb 18, 2021
Connecticut’s Swift Gold Leaf Factory becomes a community job incubator
Bruner/Cott Architects designed the project.
Mixed-Use | Jan 21, 2021
3XN and IttenBrechbühl to design a wooden tower in Switzerland
The project will be located in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Mixed-Use | Jan 20, 2021
Union Square’s first ground-up development in two decades completes
MBH Architects, in collaboration with Page & Turnbull, designed the project.