Scheduled to open in Fall 2025, the Hackensack Meridian Health and Wellness Center at Metropark in Woodbridge, New Jersey recently topped off construction.
The one-of-a-kind health and wellness center will offer more than 60,000 square feet of comprehensive healthcare services just steps from one of the state’s busiest mass transit hubs.
”Hackensack Meridian Health is thrilled to be one step closer to bringing this ground breaking project to reality,” said Robert C. Garrett, FACHE, chief executive officer of Hackensack Meridian Health.
“The Health & Wellness Center at Metropark is a significant part of how Hackensack Meridian Health is making it easier to access convenient, quality care by bringing the doctor’s office into the heart of the community and just steps away from a patient’s daily commute,” Garrett said.
One-Stop-Shop Health Services
With a comprehensive list of health services, the Health and Wellness Center at Metropark will offer a one-stop-shop convenient health experience for patients. Health services will include:
- ◾Primary care
- ◾Medical specialties
- ◾Surgical specialties
- ◾Sports and spine center of excellence
- ◾Advanced imaging
- ◾Phlebotomy
- ◾Rehabilitation
- ◾Retail pharmacy
- ◾Occupational health
- ◾Urgent care
The health and wellness center will provide convenient world class care for those who regularly use NJ Transit’s train and bus service at Metropark Station. It will also offer easily accessible medical care for those traveling the entire Northeast including New York City, Philadelphia, Boston and Washington D.C., along Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor line.
Unique Health Center Concept
The Health and Wellness Center also addresses a growing need for world class quality care in the Woodbridge and Middlesex County area, with easy access from the Garden State Parkway and Middlesex Essex Turnpike.
“In addition to HMH ’s first of its kind health care facility at the Woodbridge Metropark Station, the development will bring much needed healthcare providers and services to our Township, along with significant community benefits that will provide valuable health care resources to our residents,” said Woodbridge Township Mayor John E. McCormac.
A model like this is important in suburban areas, where currently most healthcare is primarily only accessible by car. As one of the first health systems to provide comprehensive outpatient services directly at a transit hub, Hackensack Meridian is establishing a new model of care for other health systems to emulate, increasing access.
The Development Project
Last March HMH broke ground on the $200 million project in conjunction with the larger development of Metropark Station by DOR, a consortium led by Russo Development, that was awarded a $110 million tax credit grant. The impetus for the development came from New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy’s push to modernize transportation hubs throughout the state, making them multi-use locations for residential, office space, retail and restaurants, allowing people to live, work and play in one location.
“On behalf of our partners Onyx Equities and Terminal Construction, we could not be more pleased with the opportunity to redefine the MetroPark Station and Hackensack Meridian’s vision in creating its new life,” says Ed Russo, president of Russo Development.
“It is especially gratifying to celebrate a topping off that incorporates a fantastic set of collaborators, including the State of New Jersey, NJ Transit, EDA and the Town of Woodbridge.”
Following the completion of the HMH Metropark building, a residential building will be constructed with retail on the lower level and approximately 230 residential units. With the residential growth in the immediate area surrounding Metropark and the surrounding communities, there will be a greater need for accessible health care that the Hackensack Meridian Health and Wellness Center will be able to accommodate.
“Hackensack Meridian Health’s new health care center is strategically located adjacent to a major mass transit hub, along some of New Jersey’s busiest thoroughfares, expanding access to high-quality care to residents and commuters traveling across the state,” said New Jersey Economic Development Chief Executive Officer Tim Sullivan. “This massive investment advances Governor Murphy’s vision of revitalizing our communities through transit-oriented development, which is helping drive job creation and economic growth. The NJEDA is proud to support HMH’s state-of-the-art medical hub and is looking forward to the project’s next phase, which will create new housing options for New Jersey’s families.”
The Health & Wellness Center at Metropark expands on Hackensack Meridian Health’s broader effort to better serve patients, by bringing together key network physicians and ambulatory services under one roof in easily accessible neighborhoods throughout our community. In the last several years, Hackensack Meridian Health has opened outpatient care center locations across the state including in Eatontown, Clark and Paramus.
The project will also consolidate Hackensack Meridian’s corporate offices, currently in Edison, within the upper floors of the Metropark facility, offering team members a state of the art, convenient place to work, allowing HMH to continue to attract top talent from the metro area.
“Today marks a significant milestone toward a commitment to fostering a vibrant, transit-centered community anchored by NJ Transit’s Metropark Station. This project not only drives economic growth, but also exemplifies the power of strong partnerships—with Hackensack Meridian Health providing world-class healthcare and jobs accessible by public transit, and outstanding leadership at the state and local level,” said NJ Transit President & CEO Kris Kolluri. “I also want to commend the DOR team for their dedication to the timely execution of delivering this transformative development, which aligns with our vision for sustainable, transit-oriented communities.”