Located in between Rutgers’ Camden Campus and Cooper Medical Center, the triangle-shaped building powerfully sits between City Hall Plaza, a light-rail station, and a future park. Viewable from a distance on all sides—a rarity in dense urban areas—the school stands as a sculptural beacon of both Rutgers’ and Camden’s educational and urban development ambitions.

“The Nursing and Science Building is spectacular. This is a game-changer that could attract other investment to downtown.” – Dana Redd, former mayor, City of Camden

Perkins Eastman conceived of a “super window” along the building’s southwestern side, incorporating transparency and sustainability into the design. High-performance glazing and aluminum fins provide pleasant visuals for people walking by, as well as glare-mitigation and expansive outward views for those working and collaborating inside. Each of the building’s three differing façades responds to varied street life and surrounding architecture, while still being a complete and holistic design.

A home away from home for four-year students, the building has a highly flexible interior environment that accommodate wellness, learning, socializing, collaboration, and study habits. The open “student street” is a building-wide network of gathering and study spots that promote interconnectivity at all range of social scales. Specialized classrooms, class labs, and pre-clinical practice rooms serve diverse training and educational needs so students and faculty can better serve the public through health care.

The project began at a pivotal point in Rutgers University’s history, occurring during its merger with the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. Perkins Eastman conducted engaging workshops with a range of representatives, who shared their ideas and vision for the new school building that would support their educational requirements and strengthen their relationships with the city. The collaborative process resulted in a plan that worked for everyone; and a building that not only meets, but exceeds the needs of students, faculty, and staff.