RWJBarnabas Health cut the ribbon March 11 on its largest academic ambulatory outpatient facility, located on the Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital campus in New Brunswick. 

Rising at 210 Somerset St., the 15-story Ambulatory Medical Pavilion will house clinical experts from Rutgers Health, as part of the RWJBarnabas Health Medical Group. 

Developed and owned by AST, the 229,000-square-foot pavilion is master-leased to RWJUH. A representative for the real estate investment, development and financing company said the project cost will not be disclosed. 

The medical pavilion will become the official home to the medical teams in April, according to the health care provider. 

At the new facility, patients experiencing complex conditions will have access to medical and surgical experts from Rutgers Health specializing in: 

• Heart and vascular care 
• Neuroscience 
• Digestive care/castroenterology and colorectal surgery 
• Plastic surgery 
• Ear, nose and throat care 
• Head and neck Surgery 
• Audiology and speech pathology services 

RWJUH’s non-invasive cardiology and neurophysiology programs also relocated to the new building from the main hospital. 

Additional features of the Ambulatory Medical Pavilion include: 

• A Central Sterile Processing department designed with the latest sterilization and processing equipment 
• A modern ground-floor lobby with a micro-café 
• Access from the lobby to the municipal parking deck at 20 Plum St.
• Valet parking at the building entrance

‘A transformative moment’

“The opening of the Ambulatory Medical Pavilion marks a transformative moment in our commitment to establish a destination for patients from across the state and the region who have complex conditions that require access to care in an academic medical setting,” Bill Arnold, CEO of RWJUH and executive vice president, RWJBarnabas Health, said in a statement. 

Arnold added that the facility, as well as the “soon-to-open” Jack and Sheryl Morris Cancer Center, has “created an exceptional experience for patients and clinicians.” 

New Brunswick Mayor James Cahill said, “New Brunswick’s emergence as New Jersey’s premier healthcare city is made possible through the successful collaboration of a wide range of public and private partners like AST, RWJBarnabas Health and Rutgers University.” 

Dean of Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Dr. Amy Murtha said the new facility “provides residents, fellows, and medical students with outstanding opportunities to learn and care for patients in an advanced ambulatory setting.”

RWJBarnabas Health is New Jersey’s largest academic health system.

Vision realized 

According to AST, the firm’s “vision” for the downtown area dates back nearly 20 years when it began its three-phase redevelopment for a 1.2-acre city block between Somerset and French streets.  

Additional efforts at the location include: 

• An 854-space parking garage  
• 10 Plum: a nine-story, 125,000-square-foot medical office building also leased to RWJUH 

Crews topped off the 15-story project’s steel frame in August 2022.

“This ribbon cutting represents the realization of a vision nearly two decades in the making,” said AST President Robert D’Anton. “We are proud to have partnered with RWJBarnabas Health, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, and the City of New Brunswick to bring this state-of-the-art facility to life.” 

Torcon Inc. oversaw construction. Meanwhile, Jarmel Kizel provided architecture and mechanical engineering services; O’Donnell & Naccarato managed structural engineering; and Langan Engineering led civil engineering. 

Jones Lang LaSalle Securities arranged financing. Legal land use services were provided by Kelso & Burgess Esqs. Greenbaum, Rowe, Smith & Davis LLP provided legal transactional services, according to AST.