Over the last few years, Bell Works has seen a dramatic change with new businesses opening shop over at the sprawling metrobrub. With the start of coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic earlier this year, things suddenly came to a halt. Since then, there have been small steps to slowly reopening and offering alternative outdoor events for the summer, but now it looks like they’re laying out a detailed plan for reopening the metroburb.
HOLMDEL, N.J. (Aug. 28, 2020) — Bell Works, the reimagination of the historic former Bell Labs building in Holmdel, N.J. into a thriving metroburb, today announced details surrounding its comprehensive reopening strategy in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Created in partnership with Hackensack Meridian Health’s Reopening America Assist Program, the plan includes facility and operational upgrades, design enhancements, and new “Stop the Spread” guidelines.
“The Bell Works Metroburb has evolved into a cultural heartbeat for the region. We understood the building’s importance to the community, as well as our responsibility to provide our businesses with a safe and secure environment in line with government guidelines,” said Robert Feinberg, director of operations of Somerset Development. “Under the expert guidance of Hackensack Meridian Health and the tireless efforts of the Bell Works staff and design team, we’re proud to once again open our doors to tenants and guests.”
Hackensack Meridian Health — New Jersey’s largest and most integrated and comprehensive health care network — established the Reopening America Assist Program to serve as a comprehensive, turnkey solution to support best practices in safety, cleanliness, education and testing related to the spread of infectious diseases.
With guidance from Hackensack Meridian Health, Bell Works implemented their Dahua Thermal scanners at each of the entrances of the building. These state-of-the-art scanners detect fever-level temperatures in guests as they enter the building, allowing them to efficiently pass the scanner without having to stop if they are registering normal temperatures. Hackensack Meridian Health also supplied Patient Care Technicians (PCTs) for temperature screening assistance and will continue to provide weekly scientific updates as well as policy and procedure reviews.
“Our team was impressed with Bell Works’ comprehensive reopening plan and appreciated the opportunity to see first-hand how the plan translates into reality,” Michael Geiger, Hackensack Meridian Health Vice President overseeing the Reopening America Program. “So much of what Bell Works has implemented is on target with regulatory and governmental guidelines, mandates and industry best practices, including measures geared towards improving tenant and visitor circulation through the building, and the implementation of thermal scanning procedures will help identify individuals who can potentially spread infection.”
Additional safety measures, implemented and overseen by the expert Bell Works’ Operational team including Senior Property Manager Pat Garofalo and Head of Tenant Services Brian Anderson, include increased fresh air flow and upgraded air filters, installation of additional hand sanitizer stations with touchless receptacles along the corridors, and implementation of new ‘wave to open’ entry and bathroom doors. Furthermore, all staff, security and maintenance personnel have undergone extensive training in order to reduce the risk for disease transmission, including thermal scanning procedures and protocols in the event a tenant or visitor is found to have an elevated temperature.
“We are committed to ensuring that we exceed the highest standards of health, wellness and quality of life as we welcome back our tenants, their employees and visitors from throughout the region,” added Mr. Garofalo.
Interior design and layout enhancements, led by Bell Works Creative Director Paola Zamudio and her team at NPZ Style+Decor, include: additional furniture from Moroso, Hay, and Blue Dot spaced throughout the atrium and outdoor roofdeck to meet social distance mandates; wayfinding graphics that direct and guide foot traffic; and new signage educating tenants and guests on COVID-19 signs, symptoms, etiquette and precautionary measures.
Bell Works’ participation further underscores the unwavering commitment of Somerset Development and the operational team’s dedication to reduce risk and mitigate exposure to COVID-19, reassuring tenants and visitors that it is safe to return to work and/or to resume activities within the building. In addition to aligning with best practice guidelines as specified by Hackensack Meridian Health’s Reopening America Assist Program, the Bell Works team employed a multi-tiered reopening strategy that included physical design changes and operational protocol upgrades,
With the help of HMH, Bell Works has developed its own “Stop the Spread” initiative which includes new house rules, including:
- Face masks required for entry and at all times in all indoor common areas
- No pets allowed in the Metroburb until further notice
- Sanitize laptops, phones, bags, etc
- Frequent hand washing, for 20 seconds, is highly recommended
- Do not handle coins or paper money
- Practice social distancing
- If you feel sick, please stay home!
To learn about Hackensack Meridian Health’s Reopening America Assist Program, please
visit HackensackMeridian.org/Reopen, email reopening@hackensackmeridian.org or call 732-869-2777.
More About Bell Works
Originally constructed between 1962 and 1964 by world-renowned modernist architect Eero Saarinen, the building is revered for its role in spurring the development of some of the world’s foremost inventions and research concepts. In its 40-plus year history as the research headquarters for Bell Laboratories, Lucent, and Alcatel-Lucent, the building housed a total of seven Nobel Prize winners, including those who conceived theories for the laser, the Big Bang theory, cellular technology, the transistor, and more.
Today, Bell Works’ quarter-mile long atrium has been reimagined into a publicly accessible destination for shops, restaurants, healthcare, community services, and more. Bell Works’ tenants and visitors alike can take advantage of the convenient retail options popping up on the pedestrian street.
Situated along Crawfords Corner Road, Bell Works is approximately one mile from Exit 114 of the Garden State Parkway. Its central New Jersey location provides easy access to points north and south. For more information and leasing inquiries visit Bell Works at www.Bell.Works. Follow Bell Works’ social media pages on Facebook at www.Facebook/BellWorks and @BellWorks on Instagram and @BellWorksNJ on Twitter. For retail leasing, contact Sabre Real Estate Group at (201) 509-4026 or korinis@sabre.life. Or, for office leasing inquiries, contact The Garibaldi Group at (973) 507-0369 or Keating@garibaldi.com.
About Somerset Development
Somerset Development is a leading real estate developer focusing on large-scale transit oriented and brownfield redevelopment projects headquartered in New Jersey, led by a team of principals with more than 40 years of development experience. The company has positioned itself as one of the region’s foremost real estate firms specializing in innovative mixed use and adaptive reuse projects, including the planning and development of Traditional Neighborhood Design communities that evoke a strong sense of place and reflect a distinctive character.
With several high profile, large-scale redevelopment and development projects under construction or in the planning stages, Somerset has earned a quality reputation for its unwavering commitment to excellence through responsible development practices. For more information on Somerset Development, contact the company by calling (732) 367-2828 or via the company’s website at www.SDNJ.com.
About Hackensack Meridian Health
Hackensack Meridian Health is a leading not-for-profit healthcare organization that is the largest, most comprehensive and truly integrated health care network in New Jersey, offering a complete range of medical services, innovative research and life-enhancing care.
Hackensack Meridian Health comprises 17 hospitals from Bergen to Ocean counties, which includes three academic medical centers – Hackensack University Medical Center in Hackensack, Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, JFK Medical Center in Edison; two children’s hospitals – Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital in Hackensack, K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital in Neptune; nine community hospitals – Bayshore Medical Center in Holmdel, Mountainside Medical Center in Montclair, Ocean Medical Center in Brick, Palisades Medical Center in North Bergen, Pascack Valley Medical Center in Westwood, Raritan Bay Medical Center in Old Bridge, Raritan Bay Medical Center in Perth Amboy, Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank, and Southern Ocean Medical Center in Manahawkin; a behavioral health hospital – Carrier Clinic in Belle Mead; and two rehabilitation hospitals – JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute in Edison and Shore Rehabilitation Institute in Brick.
Additionally, the network has more than 500 patient care locations throughout the state which include ambulatory care centers, surgery centers, home health services, long-term care and assisted living communities, ambulance services, lifesaving air medical transportation, fitness and wellness centers, rehabilitation centers, urgent care centers and physician practice locations. Hackensack Meridian Health has more than 36,000 team members, and 7,000 physicians and is a distinguished leader in health care philanthropy, committed to the health and well-being of the communities it serves. To learn more, visit www.hackensackmeridianhealth.org.
source: Bell Works
