Bell Works, Holmdel, NJ, in a night rendering

HOLMDEL, NJ—Continuing the revitalization of Bell Works, the former Bell Laboratories site in Holmdel, NJ, Somerset Development says The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America will occupy 90,000 square feet at the iconic facility, which Somerset calls a “metroburb,” in 2018.

Jeff Garibaldi, president, Tara Keating, vice president, and Kyle Mahoney, associate vice president, of The Garibaldi GroupBell Works' exclusive office leasing agency – represented Somerset Development in the transaction. Ted Uzelac, president of FISCHER and Guardian's corporate real estate services partner, represented Guardian in the transaction, with Newmark Grubb Knight Frank executive managing director Tim Greiner serving as the local brokerage resource with director Jamie Ragucci.

“Welcoming Guardian to Bell Works is significant to the building's breadth of next-level organizations”, says Ralph Zucker, president of Somerset Development. “People are attracted to Bell Works for its ability to foster collaboration across industries and all walks of life. As the Bell Works community continues to grow and thrive, it will be comprised of those who are the best in their craft coming together to create and inspire.”

“A Guardian campus at Bell Works will help us realize our workplace enhancement goals for our employees, enable us to attract talent from the New Jersey technology community and, in turn, better serve our customers,” says Andrew Schwartzberg, vice president of enterprise shared services for Guardian.

Guardian joins a tenant roster of established companies, many of which specialize in technology, echoing the legacy of Bell Laboratories as a hub of technology innovation.

Recent additions include anchor tenant iCIMS, a provider of innovative software-as-a-service talent acquisition solutions, and a headquarters lease with cloud-based business management and fleet management solutions company WorkWave. Other prominent commercial tenants include: Acacia Communications, an optical transmissions manufacturer; Jersey Central Power & Light; MetTel, a New York City-based telecommunications firm; McCann Systems, a national audiovisual company; NVIDIA Corporation, a publicly traded multi-platform technology firm; Spirent Communications, an international telecommunications firm; Suttons International, a worldwide logistics company; Symbolic IO, a data storage company that recently launched its innovative platform; and vi Collaboration Hub, a co-working space and networking group for technology companies and innovators in the region.

Bell Works' leasing momentum comes on the heels of its latest plans to house the Holmdel Township Library and Learning Center, which will feature a host of upgrades, including new educational programs and services, as well as updated technological infrastructure and a museum dedicated to preserving the building's unique history.

As previously reported in a video tour by GlobeSt.com, the site was once the home of some of the most monumental technological inventions of the 20th century.

In its present incarnation, Bell Works reimagines the historical building as a workplace of the future. Somerset Development is transforming the building into a mixed-use 'metroburb,' complete with offices, retail, dining, healthcare, recreation, and hospitality.

Correction, 4/12/2017, 9:49 a.m.: Because of incomplete information provided by representatives of Guardian Insurance, an earlier version of this story omitted mention of NKGF director Jamie Ragucci, who also participated in the transaction.

Bell Works, Holmdel, NJ, in a night rendering

HOLMDEL, NJ—Continuing the revitalization of Bell Works, the former Bell Laboratories site in Holmdel, NJ, Somerset Development says The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America will occupy 90,000 square feet at the iconic facility, which Somerset calls a “metroburb,” in 2018.

Jeff Garibaldi, president, Tara Keating, vice president, and Kyle Mahoney, associate vice president, of The Garibaldi GroupBell Works' exclusive office leasing agency – represented Somerset Development in the transaction. Ted Uzelac, president of FISCHER and Guardian's corporate real estate services partner, represented Guardian in the transaction, with Newmark Grubb Knight Frank executive managing director Tim Greiner serving as the local brokerage resource with director Jamie Ragucci.

“Welcoming Guardian to Bell Works is significant to the building's breadth of next-level organizations”, says Ralph Zucker, president of Somerset Development. “People are attracted to Bell Works for its ability to foster collaboration across industries and all walks of life. As the Bell Works community continues to grow and thrive, it will be comprised of those who are the best in their craft coming together to create and inspire.”

“A Guardian campus at Bell Works will help us realize our workplace enhancement goals for our employees, enable us to attract talent from the New Jersey technology community and, in turn, better serve our customers,” says Andrew Schwartzberg, vice president of enterprise shared services for Guardian.

Guardian joins a tenant roster of established companies, many of which specialize in technology, echoing the legacy of Bell Laboratories as a hub of technology innovation.

Recent additions include anchor tenant iCIMS, a provider of innovative software-as-a-service talent acquisition solutions, and a headquarters lease with cloud-based business management and fleet management solutions company WorkWave. Other prominent commercial tenants include: Acacia Communications, an optical transmissions manufacturer; Jersey Central Power & Light; MetTel, a New York City-based telecommunications firm; McCann Systems, a national audiovisual company; NVIDIA Corporation, a publicly traded multi-platform technology firm; Spirent Communications, an international telecommunications firm; Suttons International, a worldwide logistics company; Symbolic IO, a data storage company that recently launched its innovative platform; and vi Collaboration Hub, a co-working space and networking group for technology companies and innovators in the region.

Bell Works' leasing momentum comes on the heels of its latest plans to house the Holmdel Township Library and Learning Center, which will feature a host of upgrades, including new educational programs and services, as well as updated technological infrastructure and a museum dedicated to preserving the building's unique history.

As previously reported in a video tour by GlobeSt.com, the site was once the home of some of the most monumental technological inventions of the 20th century.

In its present incarnation, Bell Works reimagines the historical building as a workplace of the future. Somerset Development is transforming the building into a mixed-use 'metroburb,' complete with offices, retail, dining, healthcare, recreation, and hospitality.

Correction, 4/12/2017, 9:49 a.m.: Because of incomplete information provided by representatives of Guardian Insurance, an earlier version of this story omitted mention of NKGF director Jamie Ragucci, who also participated in the transaction.

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Steve Lubetkin

Steve Lubetkin is the New Jersey and Philadelphia editor for GlobeSt.com. He is currently filling in covering Chicago and Midwest markets until a new permanent editor is named. He previously filled in covering Atlanta. Steve’s journalism background includes print and broadcast reporting for NJ news organizations. His audio and video work for GlobeSt.com has been honored by the Garden State Journalists Association, and he has also been recognized for video by the New Jersey Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. He has produced audio podcasts on CRE topics for the NAR Commercial Division and the CCIM Institute. Steve has also served (from August 2017 to March 2018) as national broadcast news correspondent for CEOReport.com, a news website focused on practical advice for senior executives in small- and medium-sized companies. Steve also reports on-camera and covers conferences for NJSpotlight.com, a public policy news coverage website focused on New Jersey government and industry; and for clients of StateBroadcastNews.com, a division of The Lubetkin Media Companies LLC. Steve has been the computer columnist for the Jewish Community Voice of Southern New Jersey, since 1996. Steve is co-author, with Toronto-based podcasting pioneer Donna Papacosta, of the book, The Business of Podcasting: How to Take Your Podcasting Passion from the Personal to the Professional. You can email Steve at [email protected].