Mercer County Community College: Trenton Hall

Further committing to their downtown Trenton presence and initiative, the College acquired the former Home Furniture Building across the street from the Kerney Hall on North Broad Street. The work is conceived as the first phase of a broader expansion along the western edge of North Broad Street. The project greatly enhances the College’s presence along North Broad Street and in the City of Trenton.

Trenton Hall is an addition and renovation of an existing five-story building.  The ground level engages the primary street frontage, providing lively gallery space for student work and community events. Classroom, lounge and performance space for the arts are also provided at the ground level.  Second and third floor uses include laboratory and classroom space for the College’s cyber-security program and expansion space for the College’s Certified Nursing, Phlebotomy and EKG programs.  A compelling portion of the project includes an inward facing open-air courtyard that implements natural stormwater recharge for irrigation of drought tolerant and native plantings as well as storm water diversion from the City storm system.  The courtyard provides an uplifting common space for student and faculty to engage between classes.  It also serves as a compact campus green that will ultimately serve the College’s aspirations for greater expansion into the community.

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Mercer County Community College opening its doors across the street is really a jump start for the rest of the block to be redeveloped. Trenton Hall is a beautiful revitalized building re-purposed from its historic days.

Reed Gusciora, Mayor City of Trenton
PROJECT OVERVIEW
Client

Mercer County Community College

Location

Trenton, NJ

Construction Type

Renovation and New Construction Addition

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2019 New Jersey Future Smart Growth Award Winner

Reactivation of a group of long-dormant buildings in an overlooked part of the city, with amenities to serve both students and residents.

2017 NJBIA New Good Neighbor Award Winner

In addition to interior improvements to Mercer County Community College’s main campus building in Trenton, this $5.6 million project re-uses a historic building and adds art and fashion design programs to the campus, as well as classrooms for computer instruction and a multiuse space on the fourth floor. The architect was Clarke Caton Hintz, of Trenton, and the builder was Dandrea Construction Co., of West Berlin.