Bridgewater Commons represents the culmination of 16 years of efforts by developers, consultants, government agencies, and architects— including Anthony Belluschi, while a Principal with Kober/Belluschi Associates—to realize a 1.1M sf regional shopping center as part of a 120-acre mixed-use development. Containing three levels of leasable space totaling 900,000 sf for Macy’s, Lord & Taylor, and Bloomingdale’s department stores, 380,000 sf of chain and specialty stores, an eight-screen cinema complex, and a food court, Bridgewater Commons was instrumental in transforming Bridgewater from a sleepy rural town into a lively suburb of New York City.
Unique to the shopping center is the campus-like ambiance and use of indigenous stone for portions of the facade. Inside, the focus is on a monumental central court that includes an elevator clock tower, movable selling carts, cafés, a community stage, and seasonal flower plantings. Each of the three levels features a distinct character that is expressed by individual tenants, public area design, and construction detailing. Moreover, the design pays special attention to the sloping site, making use of the terrain to create grade-level entrances for all three floors.
