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In its continuous drive to be an economic engine for South Jersey, Rowan University hopes to build a 'holistic wellness village' on university-owned land, President Ali Houshmand said.
The initiative is part of what Houshmand estimates is close to $1 billion in capital projects that the fast-growing university has in the works. Chief among those are the holistic wellness village and a new basketball arena, with requests for proposals having already been issued for the development of both. The wellness village could cost upwards of $500 million and take five to 10 years to build out, Houshmand said.
That wellness village would sit on 210 acres of land at Rowan's West Campus by Inspira Health's Mullica Hill campus. Rowan sold 100 acres at Routes 322 and Route 55 to Inspira Health in 2016 for $11.5 million, but the school still owns an expansive adjacent parcel.
The vision for the land is a sort of retirement community, and a place that will take advantage of the numerous health care programs that Rowan has added, and is continuing to add, to its offerings. The university also plans to build a five-story research and educational complex on the site as part of its partnership with Virtua Health.
Houshmand said the village would have outposts for physical therapy, spiritual therapy and animal therapy, along with programs for exercise and nutrition. There would also be residential space. Houshmand said he envisions students participating in the community through internships and other employment opportunities. Residents of the community would be able to take classes, or teach, at the university as well.
"These kind of villages are being built very close to the public universities, precisely because people want to live there, they want to retire feeling young and remaining active, they want to interact with young people," Houshmand said. He added, "I think this is the perfect situation for such a facility next to a beautiful hospital and a great university."
Houshmand said the "a one-stop-shop facility" is still in its early planning stages with the RFP issued. It would likely be built out in phases over the next decade.
"Obviously, it's going to take some time, but I really believe that it's a project that if and when it happens — and I believe it will — it would be really an amazing addition for southern New Jersey," Houshmand said.
As for the new basketball arena, Houshmand said the university is currently awaiting proposals from four or five interested firms. The plan is to find a developer that will build, own and operate the arena on 24 acres owned by Rowan. The school would serve as the arena's main tenant, while the developer would be able to host concerts and other events in what Houshmand envisions as a 5,000- to 7,000-seat, $100 million arena.
"We want the place to be a business for the time that we don't use it," Houshmand said.
Other current capital projects are further along. A $145 million building to house Rowan's new veterinary school — the first of its kind in New Jersey — along with an animal hospital, is scheduled to open in fall 2025. The $73 million Jean and Ric Edelman Fossil Park, a museum and research center for STEM built on 65 acres in Mantua, is expected to be completed this winter. A $35 million expansion of Rowan's student center is also ongoing.
The development projects are part of the ambitious expansion strategy Rowan has adopted under Houshmand, who began his tenure in 2012. Through its partnership with Virtua Health, the university will create the Virtua Health College of Medicine & Life Sciences of Rowan University. It will include three schools: the Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine, Rowan-Virtua School of Nursing & Health Professions and Rowan-Virtua School of Translational Biomedical Engineering & Sciences. That's in addition to the soon-to-open School of Veterinary Medicine of Rowan University.
Enrollment growth has followed. Rowan welcomed the largest first-year class in its history last fall at 2,700 students. This year, it is has seen a 5% to 6% increase in applications, according to Houshmand.
"We have the potential to become very, very large, very fast," he said.
