IEEE Operations Center in Piscataway

The IEEE Operations Center in Piscataway, New Jersey

Groundbreaking for Building 1

Piscataway Operations Center with Building 1 in the foreground

Construction of Building 2

Construction of Building 2 with Building 1 in the foreground

Construction of Building 2

Building 2 Finished

Groundbreaking Ceremony for Building 3 on 2 September 1992

An aerial view of the IEEE Operations Center showing buildings 1 and 2 and the warehouse level of building three before the second floor was added to it

The IEEE Operations Center at 445 Hoes Lane, Piscataway, New Jersey, was built in three stages, and staff was moved from the New York offices in graduated moves.

As the size of the IEEE staff in New York City grew, IEEE needed to find expanded facilities. It was decided to purchase land and build a building outside New York City to house operations such as the warehouse, from which IEEE publications and products were shipped, and the membership operations. Land was purchased (1973?) and the first building of the Center was opened in 1975.

With glass walls on the outside, and also facing the interior garden in the center of the building, Building 1 was designed to feel open and light to those working in it. The overhanging pillared roof was designed to shade the interior from the high sun in summer and to allow the lower-angled sun in winter to shine in.

A second building was added in 1988. Ironically, as the second building was being built, there were initial concerns that the staff would not fill it and that a tenant would be needed to rent the top floor. IEEE's vigorous expansion soon put those fears to rest. Before long, a third building would be needed, and IEEE would subsequently rent part of a nearby building at 501 Hoes Lane.

The Groundbreaking ceremony for Building 3 was held on 2 September 1992. Shown in the photograph are, left to right: Mario V. Cammerano (Architect), Joseph A. Natoli (President, Joseph A. Natoli Construction Corp.), Merrill W. Buckley Jr. (IEEE President), Helen Merolla (President, Piscataway Township Council), Barbara Bye (President, Piscataway Chamber of Commerce), Eric Herz (IEEE Executive Director), John Powers (IEEE General Manager), and Edward J. Doyle (IEEE Facilities Committee).