The Cooper Street Gateway Project
The Cooper Street Gateway project, one of most anticipated and exciting projects at Rutgers
University–Camden, will create a dynamic hub that will engage the campus and our neighboring community
through careful design of meaningful spaces. The design will restore existing historic urban fabric while
simultaneously providing forward‐thinking spaces for learning and community gathering. This facility will
become a vital link between the campus and the Camden community.
The project is informed by and supportive of the Rutgers University–Camden’s recently released Strategic
Plan 2023-2028. The Cooper Street Gateway spaces will support Innovation in Academic Excellence, provide for
Transformative Student Success, enhance a Holistic Student Experience, and engage a Beloved Camden
Community—all pillars of the Rutgers—Camden strategic plan.
Learn more about the Rutgers University–Camden Strategic Plan.
Rutgers—Camden approaches the Cooper Street Gateway Project with reverence for the rich history of Cooper Street and the City of Camden. The project will unite thirteen lots and eleven contributing structures along Cooper Street and Lawrence Street into a cohesive building through the construction of a new three-story structure, with an event plaza in the rear yards of the existing buildings. By limiting construction primarily behind the existing buildings, the project retains the historic streetscapes. The new addition will consolidate faculty spaces currently spread across five campus buildings for the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, enhancing educational access for students. The project will also offer public‐facing spaces including event space for community engagement on matters of health, nutrition, violence prevention, well‐being, the arts and culture as well as other neighborhood features that build strong, healthy communities.
As it is located within the Cooper Street Historic District, this project must comply with historic preservation standards. The well-designed integration of new construction with existing fabric has received approval of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and by the Camden Historic Preservation Commission. This project aligns with Rutgers University's Climate Action Plan, aiming for energy efficiency and carbon-neutrality by 2040.
