In a historical overview, Mana Contemporary, Jersey City emerged as an industrial center in the late 1800’s. Its proximity to New York, an influx of immigrants, and the growth of the railroad made the city an attractive and wealthy destination. Lorillard Tobacco In 1918 Lorillard Tobacco Co. constructed a new factory in the Marion District of Jersey City, employing 4000-5000 workers. American Can Co. in 1929 American Can Company (CANCO) constructed a 1.2 million square foot factory to supply metal products to the North East Urban Decline Peaking at 316,000 residents in 1930, Jersey City experienced a massive, 75,000 person drop in population from 1950-1980. In 1975-1982 alone it lost 9% of its total workforce. Post-Industrial Decay Abandoned gothic Lehigh Valley railroad warehouse ruins, c. 1960, symbolic of the local railroad industry’s deterioration. Abandonment Lady Liberty’s back turned on a blasted landscape filled with rusting chemical drums and asbestos coated pipes, c. 1970. Revitalization Former rail yards and factories were replaced with waterfront skyscrapers as construction booms in the 1980’s. Exchange Place transforms into “Wall Street West’’. Vibrancy & Resilience Jersey City’s renaissance sees an influx of new restaurants & retail stores. Population surges from 223,000 (1980) to 247,000 (2010) Creative Community. Mana Contemporary opened in 2011, drawing 500+ permanent working artists and restoring the site to its former glory. Currently, Mana Contemporary Centers have been repositioned into thriving cultural communities representing all stages of the creative cycle, these communities are home to artists, schools, numerous collections, legacy libraries & services. The overall masterplan will feature 40% Art Community, 30% Storage Space, 10% Service, 10% of Communal Areas, 10% of Program spaces. Art community will include studios, residencies, educational institutions, galleries, exhibition spaces. Storage space will include storage for private collections, museums and galleries. Services will be crate shop, frame shop, books stores, etc. Communal area will be for cafes and beer gardens. Program spaces will consist of performance, event spaces, and dance studios. Mana Common masterplan will be a platform for urban revitalization and community buildings to meet the demand for sustainable communities. The masterplan design leverages five key factors which are real estate, culture, tech, small businesses, impacts to successfully transform urban areas into dynamic and sustainable neighborhoods, all while fostering innovation and maximizing social impact. 

Project Summary by Arquitectonica

Overview

• Masterplan, 6,577,000 ft² (611,000 m²), 800 ft (240 m) - 75 floors, 4447 units