New Jersey’s Improved Bell Works Building Is Bustling

Bell Works Is Holmdel’s New Haven

New Jersey is home to a variety of architectural masterpieces, and through these works of art, we preserve distinct representations of some of the best and brightest in the industry. One building that consistently catches attention is the Bell Works building. Architectural Digest dubbed it the most iconic building in New Jersey, and it’s safe to say that this prestigious title fits.

Behind the Scenes of Bell Works

In 1957, Eero Saarinen was hired by the American Telephone and Telegraph Company (AT&T) to design a modern building for the company’s research lab branch. The Modernist architect, famous for works like the St. Louis Gateway Arch and the TWA Terminal at JFK airport, was the perfect man for the job. Construction began in 1952, and the project wouldn’t be completed until 1962, one year after Saarinen’s death.

Bell Labs, which would later be renamed Bell Works, is a 2-million-sq.-ft. building set on 472 acres in Holmdel. It was home to major scientific developments such as the creation of the commercial cellular network and the Big Bang Theory, and seven Nobel Prize winners can trace their successes back to their time at Bell Labs. Once dubbed the biggest mirror ever by Architectural Forum Magazine for its giant reflective exterior, this sleek property was a symbol of the postwar corporate catapult of success before floundering in the 2000s.

"How much longer can any of these postwar corporate centers — perfect embodiments of a moment in history when cities began to feel pestilential, when suburban flight grew easier on the interstates and when faith in America's corporate power was unshakable — maintain the architecture and landscaping that made them such landmarks?" the New York Times said in a piece about Bell Works.

Eero Saarinen

In 1957, Eero Saarinen was hired by Bell to design a modern building for the company’s research lab branch. The modernist architect, famous for works like the St. Louis Gateway Arch and the TWA Terminal at JFK airport, was the perfect man for the job. Saarinen had a wide array of designs for buildings, becoming bolder with each design throughout his career. Today he is considered one of the masters of American 20th-century architecture, and was posthumously awarded a gold medal by the American Institute of Architects in 1962.

Once dubbed the biggest mirror ever, by Architectural Forum Magazine for its giant mirror-like appearance, this sleek design has made headlines ever since.

The Bell Tolls for Bell Labs

The behemoth functioned as a research and development facility for 40 years before falling from grace in 2007. Too beautiful to demolish and too costly for most to purchase, Bell Labs sat empty for years. That is when Ralph Zucker, owner of Somerset Development, purchased the property for $27 million in 2013. His colleagues called him insane for taking on such a large project.

"We went from insane to genius in about six months," Zucker says in an interview with NJ.com.

Bell Works Today

Somerset Development took the abandoned building and re-developed it into the mixed-use metroburb (metropolis in suburbia) now called Bell Works. Zucker envisioned the re-imagined property to serve as a downtown for the residents in the area that don’t have access to a traditional downtown, and he delivered. It has everything that an urban environment offers: shops, a library, dining options galore in a massive food hall, a dedicated farmers market, plenty of recreational activities, and a hotel (coming soon!). Now much more than just a lab, the Bell Works building bustles with constant activity.

Real Estate and Architecture: Why Architects Make Great Agents

The worlds of real estate and architecture are not far removed, and they often intertwine. One focuses on sales while the other focuses on design. Architects looking for new career opportunities can find great potential in the real estate business. This move is natural and holds lucrative opportunities for those willing to work for it. One can draw from their personal and professional experiences that can be adopted in other professions.

Qualified architects hold a broad range of knowledge that can easily be applied to selling a property. Architects possess the following key qualities that are applicable to success in real estate:

• An eye for detail
• Strong visual awareness
• A deep understanding of building materials and structures
• Experience with building codes and required permits

With a real estate license, an architect can gain access to home listings while utilizing their diverse network for potential new clients. Becoming a licensed real estate agent isn’t as hard as one might think - you just need to devote some time and energy to your new craft.

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