Skanska Integrated Solutions Breaks Ground on Correctional Facility for Women in Chesterfield Township, New Jersey 

Chesterfield Township, NJ — Skanska, a leading global construction and development firm, assisted in the groundbreaking of a new correction facility for women, where its program management and consulting group, Skanska Integrated Solutions (SIS) is serving as the owner’s project manager. Located in Chesterfield Township, New Jersey, the new women’s facility will replace the existing Mahan Correctional Facility (EMCF) for Women. 

“This groundbreaking represents a new chapter of criminal justice for New Jersey – one built on safety, dignity, and rehabilitation,” said Governor Murphy. “This new, state-of-the-art facility reflects our dedication to providing a safe, secure, and healthier environment for our state’s incarcerated women as they work toward rebuilding their lives for the better. Together with our partners, our Administration is building a more trustworthy and transparent criminal justice system focused on safety, recovery, and redemption.”

“This moment signifies a major step toward modernizing and establishing best practices for the incarceration of women in New Jersey,” said New Jersey Department of Corrections Commissioner Victoria L. Kuhn, Esq. “By constructing a purpose-built facility, we are creating the normative conditions that are conducive to rehabilitation, successful reentry, and improved conditions for our staff, the women in our custody, and the broader public.”

“We are proud to help deliver a modern, compassionate facility that prioritizes safety, dignity and rehabilitation while supporting the unique needs of women in the correctional system,” said Gary Thomson, Program Executive at Skanska Integrated Solutions. “This project adds to our extensive portfolio in New Jersey, joining a growing roster of initiatives we’ve delivered for the state, and reflects our ongoing commitment to building spaces that serve both people and communities.” 

Skanska is providing owner’s representative services to assist in the design, planning, and construction of the New Correctional Facility for Women. This work includes overseeing the schedule, providing construction expertise and advice, and assisting in the logistical operations of project planning. 

The new $312 million facility will offer 420 beds on a 33-acre site and is being developed as a multi-building campus rooted in trauma-informed and normative design principles. The campus layout promotes a secure, yet open environment where women can move between centralized services and programs, including education, vocational training, addiction treatment, medical care, recreation and social services. A key focus of the design is the preservation and enhancement of the natural environment, which plays a vital role in supporting the project’s overarching goal: to create a normalized, therapeutic setting that fosters rehabilitation, dignity and growth. 

Skanska is also overseeing several major projects across New Jersey that reflect the state’s commitment to innovation, sustainability and community development. These include the $47 million expansion of the 55,460-square-foot New Jersey Public Health, Environmental and Agricultural Laboratory (PHEAL), designed to strengthen the state’s public health infrastructure. At Rutgers University, Skanska is leading the $60 million Cooper Street Gateway Planning Project in Camden, revitalizing historic properties and vacant lots into a vibrant academic and community hub. For the New Jersey Juvenile Justice Commission, the firm is also managing the $139.5 million design and construction of two 54,000-square-foot juvenile rehabilitation facilities in Ewing and Winslow Townships, each designed to provide safe, supportive and sustainable environments for youth development. 

Additionally, Skanska provided owner’s representative services for the first phase of University Hospital’s $1.8 billion, nine-year campus redevelopment program in Newark, which includes a new 230,000-square-foot administrative building and an 875-space parking structure.