Location: New Brunswick, New Jersey
Year: 1998

The campus of Rutgers University is scattered across the city of New Brunswick, with dormitories long distances from classrooms, and classrooms long distances from the various sports facilities of the Division One school. As a result, a central gathering space is needed, a hub that anchors the sprawling campus that is the university. A 19,000-seat downtown basketball arena linked with a student center providing meeting rooms, food service, and other student activities was proposed to bring together not only the various campuses but also the city and the university. By integrating the basketball arena with a student center, the arena becomes accessible for additional functions, like concerts and dances, and also can accommodate functions for the city. Located near the commuter railroad, the arena is within easy walking distance of mass transit for fans coming to games from New York or Philadelphia.