The restored Beaux Art magnificence of the historic Hoboken Ferry Terminal and its signature clock tower, which lie along the Hudson River, will be in full display at a lighting ceremony scheduled for the evening of May 9, 2008, according to STV, the engineering and architectural firm. STV is NJ Transit's project manager, leading the team that developed the site’s master plan, and is currently overseeing its implementation.

The official lighting to celebrate the restoration of the tower, not seen on the New Jersey skyline since the 1950’s when it was torn down, is part of a larger ceremony orchestrated by NJ Transit to dedicate and rename the Hoboken Plaza for George D. Warrington.

“The lighting of the tower and the intricately designed, copper-clad east façade of the terminal marks the completion of the second phase of the three-phase, $115-million restoration of the Hoboken Terminal,” said Bruce Jabbonsky, R.A., vice president and project manager for STV. “Phase three design is underway and the goal is to restore passenger service to the ferry terminal in 2010,” he added. Ferry terminal passenger service was suspended in 1967.

Preliminary documents for the clock tower were prepared by STV, Beyer Blinder Belle Architects & Planners and Leni Schwendinger Light Projects. The original 230-foot high clock tower, built a century ago in 1907, was demolished in the 1950’s due to advanced deterioration of its copper cladding and structure. STV, Beyer Blinder Belle and other team members were able to recreate the tower based on historical research, archival drawings and articles on the tower. Because all of the original plans were no longer available, the team modeled some details and ornaments after other areas of the terminal. “Part of the challenge in the restoration was bringing the historic structure up to code for copper cladding, structural systems and specifications for new fiber optic and LCD lighting systems,” said Jabbonsky.

George Beckwith, associate and project manager for Beyer Blinder Belle notes, “We had the unique challenge of preserving the historic character and original design intent of the building while incorporating the highly specialized infrastructure and operational needs of modern-day ferry service, combining old world craftsmanship with contemporary construction techniques and materials.”

The Terminal’s Manhattan-facing, Hudson riverside arches’ and large-scale signage have been illuminated. The historical “marquee bulb” lighting outlined the arch-form edges and is now reproduced. The giant red “Erie Lackawanna” sign is again illuminated and both will be turned on as part of the celebration May 9. Leni Schwendinger Light Projects reproduced both lighting elements with 21st century, long-life, energy-saving lighting techniques; fiber-optics for the original incandescent globes outlining the arches, and LED strips, instead of neon, for the sign. These lighting enhancements were part of the exterior scope – which included the copper-cladding.

The final design and construction of the clock tower was completed by the design-build team lead by Hall Construction, the general contractor, with Stantec as the architect engineer. The manufacturer of the clock tower was Campbellsville Industries in Kentucky.

The Hoboken Terminal and Yard complex, listed on the state and national Register of Historic Places, is a unique multi-modal transportation hub. It integrates train, light rail and bus services in New Jersey with the ferry service (run by The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey) and PATH system to Manhattan. More than 50,000 commuters and other travelers use the terminal complex each weekday.

The two-story, 29,000 square foot ferry terminal opened in 1907 and was designed by architect Kenneth M. Murchison. With the construction of the George Washington Bridge and the Lincoln and Holland tunnels, however, commuter and freight traffic at the terminal declined and the ferry service ended in 1967. Ferry service returned in 1989, but has operated from a small, temporary facility located within the Immigrant Building, which has a ticket booth and an adjacent docking platform. In the mid-1990s, NJ Transit hired the team of architects and engineers led by STV to develop the long-term restoration and redevelopment master plan for the terminal and yards.

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