Bell Works New Jersey: Two Landmark Office Campuses Reimagined as Mixed-Use 'Metroburb' Destinations
Bisnow · 11 June 2026
TL;DR
Inspired by Somerset Development has transformed two historic New Jersey buildings — the former Bell Labs headquarters in Holmdel and the ex-Commvault campus in Tinton Falls — into mixed-use office and retail destinations under the Bell Works brand. CEO Ralph Zucker coined the term 'metroburb' to describe the concept: a large-scale, publicly accessible community blending office, retail, dining, and entertainment in a suburban setting. Bell Works Holmdel, the 2-million-square-foot Eero Saarinen-designed landmark, is nationally recognised and serves as the filming location for Apple TV+'s Severance. Bell Works Fort Monmouth, at 277,000 square feet, is in its final fit-out phase. Both buildings offer flexible office suites currently available for lease, with amenities including conference facilities, on-site dining, and high-speed connectivity.
Our take
While this is a sponsored feature focused on a New Jersey commercial property market, the 'metroburb' concept carries real relevance for South African property professionals and developers watching global office trends. SA's post-pandemic office market — particularly in nodes like Sandton, Century City, and Umhlanga — is grappling with the same question: how do you make suburban office parks compelling enough to draw tenants back? The Bell Works model, which prioritises public activation, retail mix, and community programming rather than pure office density, offers a useful reference point. For SA landlords and commercial developers, the lesson is clear: adaptive reuse of large, underutilised buildings (think former corporate campuses or government facilities) can generate long-term value when anchored by genuine mixed-use programming rather than cosmetic upgrades. For commercial tenants and brokers, flexible floor plates and shared amenity infrastructure are increasingly non-negotiable. SA's EAAB-registered commercial agents should note how the leasing strategy here emphasises lifestyle and community fit alongside square meterage — an approach gaining traction locally as hybrid work reshapes tenant expectations.