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Editor’s note: This story contains mentions of assault.
Skanska, a contractor based in Sweden, participated on October 15 in the commissioning of a $312 million correctional facility for women in Chesterfield Township, New Jersey, according to a press release Wednesday.
The builder’s program management and consulting group, Skanska Integrated Solutions, will act as project manager for the project owner, replacing the existing one. Edna Mahan Correctional Center for Women.
More than 112 years old, EMCF is the only correctional facility for women in the state. Governor Phil Murphy announced in 2021 that the the facility would be shut down and completely replaced following a report he found correctional officers assaulted several inmates. Murphy said at the time that he believed “the only way forward is to close the facility responsibly.”
Plans for the new multi-building campus include 420 beds on a 33-acre site, with an emphasis on trauma-informed and normative design principles. The project will focus on incorporating safety for women to better assist with rehabilitation, the stakeholders noted in the statement.
“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 to rebuild their lives for the better,” Murphy said in the Skanska statement.
As part of this design intent, the campus design will seek to promote an open environment where women can receive education, vocational training and medical care. The design will seek to preserve and enhance the natural environment, the statement said, to create a therapeutic environment. DRG Architects provided designs for the project, with sub-consultant HOK.
“We are proud to help provide a modern, compassionate facility that prioritizes safety, dignity and rehabilitation while supporting the unique needs of women in the correctional system,” Gary Thomson, program executive for Skanska Integrated Solutions, said in the release.
As the owner’s representative, SIS will assist in the design, planning and construction of the new facility, to include overseeing the schedule, providing construction expertise and advice, and assisting with the logistical operations of project planning.
the first The project phase is expected to open in 2027, the New Jersey Monitor reported, with full construction completed by 2028.
