Holmdel

Jan 11, 2018

From the Bell Works Blog

Somerset Development Taps Robert Feinberg as Director of Operations

Somerset Development announced on November 27 that highly regarded attorney and real estate industry veteran Robert Feinberg will serve as director of operations overseeing the company’s many residential and mixed-use development initiatives, including Bell Works, the adaptive-reuse initiative transforming the iconic two-million-square-foot Bell Laboratories located in Holmdel.

As director of operations, Mr. Feinberg will facilitate the execution of Somerset’s continued development goals, with a dedicated focus on streamlining project efficiency across all project levels. Through careful attention to day-to-day operations and project completion, he will pursue end results which not only reflect Somerset’s greater vision, but best serve each innovative approach to redevelopment and development initiatives throughout the region. Additionally, he will serve as the liaison between all external partners, organizations, agencies, and Somerset Development’s executive team and its president, Ralph Zucker.

“As Somerset continues to cultivate and advance current projects, we’re also seeking new opportunities and look to the future with excitement and confidence, knowing the team we’re building shares our motivation to exceed even the loftiest expectations,” said Mr. Zucker. “We welcome Robert’s esteemed experience, energy, and fresh perspective and look forward to the positive impact he will bring to all our endeavors.”

Mr. Feinberg joins Somerset Development following a notable career as partner at Giordano, Halleran & Ciesla, a law firm in Middletown. During his tenure, he earned industry-wide recognition and honors, including selection by the prestigious Chambers and Partners. With degrees in both finance and law, his real estate specialty has led him to work extensively with both privately held and public developers, tenants, REITs, contractors, brokers, and real estate management companies for the past 25 years.

“It’s an exciting time to join the Somerset Development team and I’m especially thrilled to have the opportunity to join a company that has truly pushed the limits of what was thought possible in the realm of commercial real estate development,” said Mr. Feinberg. “From the transformation at Bell Works to a host of similarly ambitious redevelopment initiatives, I’m excited to help lead Somerset’s efforts to rethink the ways in which we work, live, and interact.”

Among several innovative projects, the revitalization of the former Bell Labs into a mixed-use “metroburb” in the heart of suburbia, is continuing to experience significant momentum. To date, Bell Works has signed leases for over 75 percent of its office space and celebrated the move-in of anchor tenant iCIMS, a leading provider of innovative Software-as-a-service (SaaS) talent acquisition solutions. The increasingly vibrant environment at Bell Works will soon showcase multiple dining options, including a food hall, coffee shop, and restaurant, as well as childcare services, gym and fitness center, salon, hotel, and more.

Another initiative well underway is Wesmont Station in Wood-Ridge New Jersey. In partnership with NJ Transit, Somerset led a comprehensive environmental remediation effort to develop a new train station and public plaza, serving as the centerpiece of a 70-acre Traditional Neighborhood Design development, currently under construction. The site, formerly home to the Curtiss-Wright manufacturing plant, includes a mix of housing, retail, and community facilities that join together to create a vibrant center for the borough.

In addition, Somerset’s GlassWorks project in Aberdeen is creating a vibrant, accessible “Main Street” on what was once an abandoned industrial site. Located adjacent to regional transit corridors, the 55-acre plot will include 540 new residential units, a 110-room hotel, and 75,000 square feet of retail space, including a boutique movie theater. Plans for the project also involve Glassworks Park, a two-acre public park that will offer ample open space and display brick stacks from the original factory site. The project further represents Somerset’s mission to repurpose environmentally problematic sites, transforming them into thoughtful and sustainable regional destinations.

NYC Chefs Team Up for Bell Works Eateries

A group of chefs with experience at New York City restaurants like Upland, Union Square Cafe, and Bien Cuit have teamed up to open a food hall in Holmdel. Bell Market will open inside the reimagined Bell Works complex in early spring 2018 with five concepts: wood-fired Italian food, a Jewish deli, Japanese fare, farm-to-table vegetarian food, and a bakery. Before it fully opens, it’s previewing in the space on weekdays from 11:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. through February, with a limited menu.

Artful Collaboration in the Bell Works Atrium

It was makeover week for the atrium in early December, as the long-awaited furniture sculpture collaboration came to fruition. “The Bell Works Tubes is a dream collaboration with artist Ron Arad and the Moroso Family,” said creative director Paola Zamudio, who worked with the Italian artisan furniture company Moroso and the artist behind Ron Arad Studio to create these functional art pieces. “Our only direction to Ron Arad was that the pieces not compete with the Albers floor. If you have art on the floor, you have to have something special. Ron Arad’s work is art to me.” For the layout design, Ms. Zamudio was inspired by a textile from 1926 by Annie Albers. She selected the colors to enhance the atrium tile work, which master architect Alexander Gorlin designed after the work of Josef Albers. Josef and Annie Albers were leading pioneers of 20^th-century modernism. Visit the atrium and try out the Tubes for yourself.

Bell Street Market Shopping Event

Recently, Bell Works added Shop to its Live.Work.Play motto with the first ever Bell Street Market. More than 600 people came out on a Wednesday evening to eat, sip, shop, and practice yoga. Vendors from the Babes in Business network brought their wares, with everything from plants and purses to candles and surfboard covers. MettamadeUSA led a yoga session via NJ Silent headphones in the center of the atrium. It was so cool to see a huge group of women centering themselves amongst the hustle of shoppers. Restauranteur Marilyn Schlossbach provided tasty eats and the Cocktail Caravan had guests sipping cucumber-infused vodka cocktails. Thanks to Jenn Chavez of Babes in Business and NPZ Style + Decor for organizing the event.

#AtWork Video Series on Social Media Showcases Life in the Metroburb

On November 1, Bell Works launched its #AtWork social media campaign. This campaign will showcase the lives of its tenants in the live, work, play community. From playing catch with the office dog during lunch, to enjoying fresh air on the terrace between meetings, to challenging a co-worker to a friendly game of ping-pong, Bell Works is giving you a look inside its metroburb. To watch the trailer, go to http://info.bell.works/bell-works-at-work-video-series.

Tenants and the general public are invited to follow Bell Works on social media and email. Follow on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn at @BellWorks and on Twitter @BellWorksNJ. Subscribe to emails at http://info.bell.works/subscribe-to-bell-works-news-and-events. Videos are created by Silver Style Pictures.