Rowan University announces $690M West Campus Project to power health, manufacturing innovation and workforce development

Rowan University today unveiled plans for a transformative $690 million West Campus Development Project, an integrated district for health, manufacturing innovation and workforce development that is expected to generate more than 5,000 jobs and reshape economic growth in South Jersey.

The multiphase initiative between Rowan University and partners across health care and the private sector will be located on 220 acres at the intersection of Routes 55 and 322 in Gloucester County, New Jersey.

The project brings together two major components—the Rowan University Wellness Village and the Rowan University Center for Manufacturing Innovation—to create a uniquely integrated  district that strengthens South Jersey’s leadership in health care and advanced manufacturing. 

The expansive project is expected to generate approximately $14.3 million in annual tax revenues (property, sales, income and hotel), create more than 4,170+ construction jobs and more than 900+ permanent jobs.

“What we are proposing is transformational in scope and impact,” Rowan University President Ali A. Houshmand said. “It is a bold vision for the region, well beyond the 220 acres of our project, something that will spur growth throughout the county and South Jersey. The Wellness Village provides a planned living-learning community anchored in education, health and wellness. Our Center for Manufacturing Innovation will act as a powerful catalyst to attract researchers and investors interested in leveraging Rowan’s research expertise and facilities.” 

A community built for wellness and longevity

Situated south of Route 322, the Rowan University Wellness Village will be a vibrant, intergenerational community. Its strategic alignment with Rowan University and Inspira Health ensures a living, evolving ecosystem grounded in research, enriched by education and driven by human-centered care.

“Inspira is proud to partner with organizations to create spaces that promote health and well-being through walking trails and therapeutic opportunities,” Inspira Health CEO Amy Mansue said. “Together with the communities we serve, we are committed to ensuring these spaces reflect and meet everyone’s needs.”

Inspired by longevity research and Blue Zone principles, the Wellness Village will create a community of health-conscious living through activities, education, accessible health services and strong community engagement. Health care will be available onsite at a new Inspira Health medical office building and at separate independent living, assisted living and memory care facilities partnering with United Methodist Communities (UMC) and Rowan Medicine, an affiliate of Virtua Medical Group. 

United Methodist Communities, a statewide senior living provider, will pioneer  intergenerational living models and health-based housing design within the village.

“The Rowan Wellness Village represents a transformative opportunity to expand our mission in bold new ways,” Mark Lenhard, President & CEO of UMC noted. “Through our partnership with Rowan University and a coalition of visionary stakeholders, UMC is proud to bring over a century of senior care expertise into a dynamic, intergenerational setting that reimagines wellness, purpose and lifelong learning. Together, we are not only helping older adults live abundant lives, we are pioneering innovative practices that will serve as a model for compassionate, integrated living across New Jersey and beyond.”

The Rowan Community Wellness Institute, a community center, will promote health and wellness through a range of programs and services, including artistic, culinary, fitness and other educational opportunities for Wellness Village residents.

The Wellness Village is designed for walkability, linking housing to health care, recreation facilities through trails, shuttle services, rideshare access and bicycle infrastructure. It will feature a complete and balanced community master plan, which includes:

• Rowan Community Wellness Institute (40,000 sq. ft.)
• Inspira Medical Office Building (65,000 sq. ft.)
• 160-room hotel and conference center
• Retail center (56,000 sq. ft.)
• Residential units
  • 250 market rate, for-rent residential units
  • 410 for-purchase homes, including small and large townhomes and single-family homes
  • 340 continuum-of-care retirement community units, including 96 active adult (55+) rentals
• Wooded preserve with walking trails.

Additionally, Inspira will construct a 25,000-sq.-ft. administrative headquarters on site. 

Driving the future of manufacturing and workforce development

North of Route 322 on Rowan’s West Campus, the University is advancing plans for the first building in Rowan University Center for Manufacturing Innovation (RCMI)—a 350,000 sq. ft. cluster of facilities that will integrate manufacturing innovation and workforce development with health care, higher education and residential planning.

The center is designed to help companies move ideas from prototype to production faster, strengthening regional supply chains and creating high-paying technical jobs.

Anchored by four established and productive Rowan engineering research institutes—Advanced Materials & Manufacturing Institute, the Center for Research & Education in Advanced Transportation Engineering Systems, the Machine & Artificial Intelligence Virtual Reality Center and the Digital Engineering Hub—the manufacturing center will provide access to high-demand leasable research space, shared fabrication equipment and opportunities for private industry to co-locate R&D operations alongside Rowan faculty and student research space.

Medical and assistive technologies can be piloted with real users through the Wellness Institute, senior residential community members and clinical partners.

“The Center for Manufacturing Innovation on Rowan’s West Campus is about imagining what’s possible when innovation, talent and industry converge,” Rowan University Chancellor Tony Lowman said. “This research hub will serve as a launchpad for novel ideas, where students learn by doing, faculty push the boundaries of discovery and industry partners help turn research into solutions that shape the future of manufacturing. By creating a place for shared resources, ideas and ambition, Rowan is positioning itself as a national leader in advanced manufacturing and medtech innovation.”

The center builds on the momentum of development on the West Campus, which already includes the Samuel H. Jones Innovation Center, the Center for Research & Education in Advanced Transportation Engineering Systems, the Shreiber School of Veterinary Medicine, the Virtua Health College Research Center of Rowan University. The West Campus also contains a student-run produce farm, aquaponics facility and the future home of the Rita & Larry Salva School of Nursing & Health Professions, part of Virtua Health College of Medicine & Life Sciences of Rowan University. 

“The rapid transformation of Rowan University, including its nearly doubling of enrollment over the past dozen years to 24,500 students, and its ranking among the top 100 public research universities in the nation, has created an opportunity for growth typically seen only at our nation’s most forward-thinking universities and their host communities,” Chad Bruner, chair of the Rowan University Board of Trustees, said. 

Proven partners in development 

The managing developer and partner in the project, Fairmount Properties, specializes in mixed-use development projects, including Pinecrest Orange Village in Ohio, Ball State and  Marshall universities, and the University of Rochester. 

“The ripple effect of this investment and the implementation of this smart growth master plan will generate jobs and tax revenues, address much-needed workforce training in health care and advanced manufacturing, and create a community focused on long and healthy lifestyles,” said Randy Ruttenberg, founder and co-principal of Fairmount Properties. “It’s a bold model that will certainly be duplicated across the country and unsurprisingly, Rowan is the first to move into this unique space. We appreciate the confidence they have shown in our team to execute this transformational vision.”

Moving forward

The planned two-part project will be located in portions of Rowan University’s West Campus in Harrison Township and Glassboro. University officials will meet with planning boards and councils of both municipalities and will share project details publicly through town hall meetings starting this spring. 

The project will be delivered through a public-private development model. Rowan University will collaborate with development partners on phased implementation. Construction timelines are subject to municipal approvals, with initial phases to be determined.