The New Jersey Hall of Fame (NJHOF) will soon have a home to call its own.

In an Oct. 11 press release, the nonprofit organization announced it broke ground on a state-of-the-art space at American Dream in East Rutherford and expects the project to wrap up by spring 2023.

The forthcoming 10,000-square-foot entertainment and learning center (ELC) will be located on the third floor of the Meadowlands megamall, near the Nickelodeon Universe theme park, DreamWorks indoor water park and Toys R Us flagship store. It will feature exhibits and immersive experiences to celebrate the Garden State, as well as inductees of the New Jersey Hall of Fame, which is an annual recognition given to New Jerseyans who have made important contributions.

NJHOF president Steve Edwards said, “The exhibits within the ELC will allow visitors to explore their passions through the significant achievements and contributions made by each of our inductees.”

He went on to describe it as “a place where we can take pride in our Jersey grit; and where we can all, including our children, be inspired to realize our highest and best sense of selves. I couldn’t imagine a more fitting home for NJHOF than one of New Jersey’s top destinations.”

The space will have life-size replicas of honorees and virtual reality experiences that allow attendees to learn more about inductees’ lives in New Jersey, according to the organization.

Other planned features include: a hologram karaoke stage where patrons can sing along with some of music’s biggest legends, such as Frankie Valli and Gloria Gaynor, or play late night host and interview some of their favorite stars.

The ELC will also contain a “Wall of Fame” made up of artifacts and plaques celebrating each of the more than 200 individuals in the realms of arts, enterprise, entertainment, public service and sports who have been inducted into the NJHOF since 2008.

NJHOF – which is currently based in a mobile museum on the Meadowlands property – has honored some of the best and brightest from New Jersey, such as Frank Sinatra, Bruce Springsteen, Meryl Streep, Shaquille O’Neal, Judy Blume, Woodrow Wilson, Annie Oakley, Brian Williams, Jon Stewart and Frank Lautenberg.

Jon Hanson, NJHOF chairman, said, “American Dream is a one-of-a-kind destination and a New Jersey icon, making it the ideal location for our state-of-the-art center. The Entertainment and Learning Center will be one of the ultimate symbols of Jersey pride where we will be able to celebrate our great state and all the contributions made by its many illustrious residents.”

Don Germezian, American Dream’s chief executive officer, said it is “only fitting” for NJHOF to open its ELC at American Dream, a venue that he believes is “truly a source of pride for the great state of New Jersey.”

Added Robert Garrett, chief executive officer of Hackensack Meridian Health, NJHOF’s lead sponsor, “We’re thrilled to see this project launched and we support the New Jersey Hall of Fame’s mission to honor our great state and its exceptional citizens who have contributed so much to the world.”