New Jersey Symphony’s new headquarters and performance hall will be located in the Powerhouse Arts District of Jersey City, officials announced.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“This represents a significant milestone in Jersey City’s cultural evolution, creating a key destination for our region with permanent space for world-class performances and community-driven initiatives,” Mayor Steven Fulop said in a statement.
“We started these conversations over a year ago, and we couldn’t be more excited to welcome the New Jersey Symphony to their new home in Jersey City. This new endeavor will enhance our economic and cultural landscape and, more importantly, offer unparalleled opportunities to our residents and community.”
The new Symphony Center, located at the intersection of Bay and Provost Streets, will offer a multipurpose 550-seat theater, space for education and community programs, and 8,000 square feet for administrative offices.
Additionally, it will provide a permanent space for artistic, educational, and community offerings in Jersey City and throughout Hudson County.
“I am thrilled to see the Symphony Center project come to fruition. Having a home to call our own will allow us to expand on the many impactful education and community programs for which the Symphony is well-known throughout the state, with new entertainment options that the residents of Jersey City, Hudson County and beyond are sure to enjoy,” added New Jersey Symphony President & CEO Gabriel van Aalst.
“In addition to being a home for rehearsals and performances by our musicians and icons of the classical music world, we can’t wait to introduce audiences to performances from a broad range of performing arts and collaborate with local Jersey City artists and arts organizations. When patrons enter the theater for the first time, they will immediately recognize that there is no other space like this in Jersey City and will realize the full potential and cultural value it brings to the community.”
Craig Silliman and Bob Garrett, co-Chairs of the New Jersey Symphony Board of Trustees, also expressed excitement about the new development.
“With both public and private support, the Jersey City project will enable the Symphony for the first time in its 102-year history to have a rehearsal and concert space that is operated by the organization. We want to thank our Board of Trustees as well as our musicians and our administrative staff who helped facilitate this move. As co-chairs of the board, it is an honor to be a part of an organization that is so vital to the arts in the state,” they said.
New Jersey Symphony’s series of classical subscription concerts and special events have been featured at NJPAC in Newark, State Theatre New Jersey in New Brunswick, Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank, Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown, and Richardson Auditorium in Princeton.
Additionally, the symphony is the largest single employer of union musicians in the state, employing 66 full-time musicians who receive salary and benefits.
They also contract with union musicians and stagehands as needed for additional program and community support and employs approximately 40 staff members to run its operations and education programs.
Toll Brothers has been tapped to do the construction for the project, which currently has a tentative opening date of spring 2026, pending the completion of the interior work.
