Work Hard, Play Harder: New Jersey Apartments Level Up On Amenities

As multifamily residents continue to use their buildings as hybrid workstations, developers have been looking into creative ways to help them stay both comfortable and productive.

“Most, if not all, of the buildings we are involved with have some sort of coworking amenity space in a common area or a dedicated office in the units themselves,” said Bryan Murray, director of business development for March Construction. 

For more than 35 years, New Jersey-based March Construction has been at the helm of some of the Tri-State Area’s multifamily construction projects. Murray has collaborated closely with developers and gleaned insights on what today’s work from home tenants need.

An example of this type of amenity-forward thinking is one of March's recent projects, The Wyldes, a new 399-unit luxury apartment building in Harrison, New Jersey. 

Residents can enjoy the game room, pool hall or fitness facility, or step outside to the building’s courtyard or rooftop for a barbecue and firepit. The Wyldes, which consists of studios as well as one- and two-bedroom units, also offers many of its residents their own balcony or terrace.

“You’re at home, but you don’t feel like you’re stuck in your unit all day,” Murray said. “You can go to a space that’s a little more open and it will offer you a lot of the conveniences of a typical workplace.”

When creating residences with hybrid and remote workers in mind, Murray said that developers want to consider what encourages a productive and enjoyable work experience. 

This often includes communal spaces with workstations, small rooms for meetings, beverage stations and building-wide WiFi access separate from each unit’s WiFi. The units themselves can also include features such as a built-in desk, floating shelves and abundant outlets.

During the workweek, residents can use its coworking facility, which has individual office space and meeting rooms, or the library that leads to the courtyard. 

Unlike older apartment buildings, in which residents stay in their units and come and go throughout the day, newer apartments such as The Wyldes are created to bring together a community and encourage interaction among residents.

“What you’ll see at the Wyldes and other properties that have these business centers is that you’re meeting your neighbors and finding commonalities,” Murray said. “You’re working, but you’re also able to have sidebar conversations with people you may not have necessarily met before.”

In addition to catering to young professionals, these types of apartments are also suitable for families who can pay rent while taking advantage of the breadth of amenities without having to incur the maintenance costs of home ownership, he said.

The Wyldes is located in Harrison’s Riverbend District, giving residents proximity to its many retail, restaurant and entertainment options, including Red Bull Arena. The PATH train is just minutes away from the area, offering access to New York City or other destinations in New Jersey.

The Wyldes was produced in collaboration between March Construction, developer Advance Realty and MHS Architecture. 

Building and designing The Wyldes was very much a group effort, Murray said. In addition to coordinating with many subcontractors, the team had to contend with hold-ups in the supply chain. 

However, despite the challenges that occurred throughout the building process, the result was a distinctive building that serves the needs of the local community.

“This building has become a marquee property,” Murray said. “I can’t say enough how proud I am of our company as well as the entire team. Advance Realty and MHS Architecture did a great job of incorporating some of the special elements that haven’t been seen in other buildings.”

He said that March Construction takes a teamwork approach to building mixed-use properties in New Jersey, working closely with the developer and designer to create unique properties.

“Having a team of professionals involved means that we’re learning something new on every project, whether that be new design elements or what technologies are being offered throughout the buildings and in the units,” Murray said. “Every project is unique and it takes a group effort to bring these projects to reality.”

Learn more about the ribbon-cutting ceremony for The Wyldes here.

This article was produced in collaboration between Studio B and March Construction. Bisnow news staff was not involved in the production of this content.

Studio B is Bisnow’s in-house content and design studio. To learn more about how Studio B can help your team, reach out to [email protected].