Education, Riverfront Projects Trend in Camden, N.J.: City Scoop

Value of new contracts expected to decline 4% in 2021 after having fallen 8% last year

Weakness in the non-residential and non-building sectors will more than offset gains in residential work.

City Grill

Angelo Alberto
Principal
Spiezle Architectural Group Inc.

There has been a major investment in the education and health care sectors that has driven Camden’s economy and community, says Alberto, referring to sector projects his firm has worked on, such as the Charles Sumner School and the KIPP Whittier High School set to open in 2022.

Another trend in Camden is tied to location, as statewide “tax initiatives have resulted in nearly $2 billion of new construction projects along the Delaware River,” Alberto says. “City leaders and private developers are looking to redevelop this area with sustainable projects.”

To be sure, he concedes, “although Camden has experienced substantial growth, some parts of the city are still a bit fragmented.”

Alberto says that “developing these areas and improving the city’s education and park systems are critical to the overall growth strategy.” He adds that project investment by major entities including Hilton Corp., American Water, Cooper University Health Care, Subaru and Rowan University/Rutgers-Camden will encourage other investors.