If you’ve ever stepped off a train at Newark Penn Station and looked toward the skyline, you’ve seen it. One Newark Center isn’t just another glass-and-steel monolith; it is a 22-story anchor that basically defines the transition between Newark's industrial past and its high-stakes legal and corporate present. It’s a building that wears many hats. To some, it’s the prestigious home of Seton Hall University School of Law. To others, it’s a Class A office hub where some of the state’s most influential legal minds drink overpriced espresso while prepping for depositions.
Honestly, it’s easy to walk past 1109 Raymond Boulevard and think it’s just another piece of the downtown scenery. But there is a specific energy here.
Built in 1992, the building was a signal that Newark was ready for a comeback long before the current "renaissance" became a marketing tagline. It occupies a prime slice of the city, sitting right at the intersection of McCarter Highway and Raymond Boulevard. For anyone commuting from Manhattan or the Jersey suburbs, the location is unbeatable. You’re one block from the PATH and NJ Transit. You’ve got views of the New York City skyline that could make a midtown landlord weep.
The Seton Hall Factor: A Law School in a Skyscraper
You can't talk about One Newark Center without talking about the law students. Seton Hall Law occupies a massive chunk of the building—roughly 200,000 square feet. It isn't just a tenant; it’s the heartbeat of the lower half of the tower.
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Walk through the lobby on a Tuesday morning and you’ll see the "suit-and-tie" law students mixing with corporate executives. It creates this weird, academic-meets-adversarial vibe. The school features the Larson Auditorium, which is where big-deal conferences and legal retreats happen. Because the school is integrated into the commercial center, the networking happens in the elevators.
There is something unique about a law school that doesn't sit on a grassy campus but instead exists inside a functional business engine. It forces the students to breathe the air of the industry they’re trying to enter.
Modernization and the 2026 Vision
The building has hit that age where "90s chic" starts to feel a little tired. Management knows this. Recently, there has been a significant push to modernize the common areas. If you haven't been inside lately, the lobby is getting a face-lift to make it feel less like a fortress and more like a modern tech hub.
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- The Sixth Floor Patio: This is the building’s secret weapon. It’s a massive outdoor space with direct views of NYC. In a post-pandemic world, these "third spaces" are what keep tenants from fleeing to work-from-home setups.
- The Fitness Center: They’ve overhauled the gym. It’s not just a treadmill in a basement anymore; it’s a full-service facility designed to compete with the luxury gyms popping up in the Ironbound.
- Infrastructure: We’re talking 2N redundant power and 10-gig fiber connectivity. Basically, if the city's power grid blinks, this building stays lit. That’s why firms like Cohen Seglias and government agencies like HUD keep their desks here.
Who Actually Works Here?
The tenant roster is a who's who of the New Jersey legal and public sectors. You have the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) taking up significant space. Then there are the law firms. Cohen Seglias Pallas Greenhall & Furman PC, Wintrust Life Finance, and various other boutique firms call this place home.
It’s a specific ecosystem.
Because it’s a "Class A" building, the rents aren't cheap, but the "Newark discount" compared to Jersey City or Manhattan is still very real. For a law firm that needs to be near the Frank R. Lautenberg Post Office and Courthouse, One Newark Center is the premier choice. It's close enough to the action but provides enough "ivory tower" separation to get actual work done.
The Commuter's Reality
Let's get real about the parking. Newark is notorious for it. One Newark Center has an on-site garage with about 950 spaces. It's managed by LAZ Parking, and while it’s convenient, it’s also where you’ll spend a chunk of your change if you aren't taking the train.
Pro tip: if you’re visiting, use the Level C exit. It puts you right into the law school side of the building without having to walk all the way around the block in the rain.
Why the Location Matters (Beyond the Train)
The building sits at a gateway. To the east, you have the Passaic River and the burgeoning Riverfront Park. To the west, you’re steps away from the Prudential Center—home of the NJ Devils and every major concert that hits Jersey.
You’re also right next to "The Junction" at Gateway Center. This is important because, for a long time, One Newark Center was a bit of an island for food options. Now, with the $50 million investment into the Gateway concourse, tenants can walk through the skywalks to get decent tacos or a high-end salad without ever touching the sidewalk.
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Actionable Insights for Tenants and Visitors
If you’re looking to lease space or just visiting for a legal seminar, here is the ground-level truth:
- Don't drive if you don't have to. The walk from Newark Penn is less than five minutes. Use the McCarter Highway crossing carefully—it’s a high-traffic zone and drivers are usually in a rush.
- Check out the Sky Lobby. If you have access, the café and coffee bar area has been recently updated. It’s one of the best spots in the city for a quiet morning meeting.
- The Tech Specs. If you're a business owner, ask about the "Point of Entry" (POE) for the fiber circuits. The building has redundant POEs, which is a big deal for data-heavy firms.
- Networking. The Larson Auditorium is often the site of public events. Even if you aren't a Seton Hall student, keeping an eye on their event calendar is a great way to get inside the building and meet the local legal community.
One Newark Center is currently navigating a transition. It is moving from being a "90s legal fortress" to a modern, amenity-rich hub. As the 2026 conference center renovations finish up, it’s likely to remain the dominant professional address in downtown Newark for the foreseeable future.
To get the most out of your visit or potential tenancy, reach out to the management team at CBRE for a tour of the new sixth-floor outdoor space. If you are a prospective law student, schedule your tour through the Seton Hall Law admissions office on the ground floor to see how the school integrates with the professional offices above.