NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ— Philadelphia-based architectural design firm Ballinger has received a Merit Award from the New Jersey chapter of the American Institute of Architects for its imaginative design of the New Jersey Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health, a building that will serve as Rutgers University's focal point for interdisciplinary collaboration between the school's departments of food science, nutrition, public policy, pharmacy, exercise science and sport studies, genetics, agriculture and health sciences research.

“At Rutgers University, Ballinger has created an extremely compelling design that sets an example for educational institutions in New Jersey and beyond,” says Kurt Kalafsky, AIA, president of AIA-NJ. “The design of the New Jersey Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health focuses on sustainability, but the sustainable features of the building also elicit joy from an aesthetic perspective. From a human participation point of view, the building is incredibly appealing.”

The New Jersey Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health, brings together researchers of many departments, and serves as a community gathering place through a pre-school, conference areas, labs and community areas, includes wet and dry laboratories, shared instrumentation space, computing facilities, faculty and administrative offices, a computer server room, “smart” lecture halls and classrooms (with smart board technology), and flexible spaces to accommodate the changing needs of the program.

Designed to LEED Gold specifications, the building will be an innovative space that promotes and inspires leading-edge research.

“One of the things that it is very unique about this building is the fact that it is very transparent. In the end, the building will feel very open and very tranquil in a way that will inspire people to relax their mind and think creatively,” says Craig S. Spangler, AIA, design principal.

Instant Insights /

Philadelphia Architects Honored by AIA-NJ for Rutgers Building

Related Stories

Recommended For You