GIRALDA FARMS

 

LOCATION: MADISON and CHATHAM, NJ

CLIENT: VARIOUS

MARKET SECTOR: REAL ESTATE

SIZE: 1.25 Million SF

THE OPPORTUNITY

The redevelopment of this historically significant and environmentally sensitive property as a corporate office park provided some of the most remarkable settings for an office park within the State of New Jersey. Giralda Farms Corporate Office Park lies within the Borough of Madison and the Township of Chatham in Morris County, New Jersey. The tract was formerly the country estate of Geraldine R. Dodge, daughter of William Rockefeller, Jr.

 

THE CHALLENGE

The property contained tree-lined carriage paths and majestic groves of trees, some exceeding 5-foot caliper, which offered unique but challenging visual contexts for the office building placement. In addition, stormwater was discharging to the Great Swamp with the environmental impacts exceeding those of all but a few locations in the State.

 

THE PS&S SOLUTION

Careful siting of the buildings allowed the existing vegetation to dictate the building shapes and positioning. Stormwater management basins that anticipated the NJDEP requirements associated with Stormwater 2 preserved the character and the view corridors while making possible the construction of over 1.25 million sf of high-quality office space. PS&S has been the engineers for six development tracts within Madison Borough. Five of the six were developed as corporate headquarters facilities.  Although the tenancy has changed over the years, the initial projects included Schering-Plough, American Home Products, Atlantic Mutual Insurance and Maersk Steamship's Corporate Headquarters.