Progress Underway At 6-Story Hackensack Meridian Building At MetroPark

WOODBRIDGE, NJ — RWJBarnabas Health and healthcare rival Hackensack Meridian Health continue to duke it out for clients in densely populated Central Jersey:

First, RWJBarnabas Health unveiled its brand-new, 15-story medical building in the heart of New Brunswick Tuesday; it opens to the public in April. The building is outpatient only, and has doctors' offices in cosmetic/plastic surgery, cardiovascular care and ear, nose and throat, among other specialties.

But not to be outdone, construction is currently underway at Hackensack Meridian's six-story Health and Wellness Center at the MetroPark train station in Woodbridge. It is scheduled to open sometime this year.

The medical building will be part of a larger development at MetroPark, tentatively called The Hyve at MetroPark, which will include office space, street-level retail and restaurants, and an apartment building of 230 residential units, at least 20 percent of which will be low-income housing.

Last March: Major MetroPark Development Given $113M In Tax Breaks From State Of NJ

Hackensack's wellness center will house primary care doctors' offices, an urgent care center, an advanced imaging center (scans), physical therapy and occupational health, a sports and spine center, cardiology, phlebotomy (blood work), surgical specialties and a retail pharmacy. Hackensack Meridian Health will also consolidate its corporate offices, currently located in Edison, at MetroPark. The $200 million project is expected to create at least 1,000 jobs for the region.

For the past several years, Hackensack Meridian and RWJBarnabas have been competing with each other to open medical offices in high-density, high-traffic locations such as New Jersey malls and train stations. In 2022, both hospitals systems opened dueling outpatient facilities at the Monmouth Mall in Eatontown, currently undergoing a revamping by Kushner to be made into townhouses around a center green.

The two hospital systems are in competition with each other to dominate New Jersey's healthcare market, especially in prime suburban areas.

"We are incredibly proud that this building will house Hackensack Meridian Health and their statewide headquarters right here in Woodbridge Township," said Woodbridge Mayor John McCormac at his state of the Township address last Thursday.

Related: RWJBarnabas Opens 15-Story Medical Building In Heart Of New Brunswick (March 11)

Rivals RWJBarnabas, Hackensack Meridian Both Open Medical Offices At Monmouth Mall (2022)

First report: Gov. Murphy Unveils Big Plans For MetroPark Apartments, Offices (2022)