Rutgers has completed a major lighting upgrade around Passion Puddle on the Cook/Douglass campus, an important improvement focused on visibility and safety. The project was launched in response to feedback from students who shared concerns about lighting along key pedestrian walkways and near bus stops. In partnership with student groups, IP&O groups from Public Safety, Transportation Services, Facilities, and Planning, Development, and Design (PD+D) conducted nighttime walkthroughs to better understand those concerns and identify areas needing improvement. “It was clear that additional lighting was needed to improve visibility and enhance safety,” said Jenn Stuart, Senior Director of University Planning and Development.
IP&O leaders meet regularly with student groups, and one concern surfaced consistently: inadequate lighting along key pedestrian routes and near bus stops. “In ongoing meetings, students repeatedly raised concerns about lighting on Cook/Douglass,” said John Karakoglou, Director of Transportation Services. “We took that feedback seriously.” Working collaboratively across multiple IP&O teams, the Cook/Douglass Lighting Project was completed on schedule. The upgrade included removing outdated fixtures and installing a new, energy-efficient lighting system equipped with onboard dimming modules and photocell controls for dusk-to-dawn operation.
The newly illuminated pathway begins at Blake Hall, continues past Waller Hall and the Loree Office Building; it moves through the Lipman Learning House parking lot, includes Lipman Hall, and extends to the intersection of Lipman Drive and College Farm Road West, areas frequently used by students walking to residence halls, classrooms, and bus stops. Additional phases will bring improvements near Loree Gym North, Gibbons, and College Hall.
Zaydie Chadwick, Assistant Director of IP&O Renovation and the project lead, noted that the work required close coordination among Transportation, Facilities, Public Safety, PD+D, High Voltage, Utilities, Grounds, Parking, and Environmental Health and Safety (REHS). “The project presented several challenges,” Chadwick said. “We had to coordinate across multiple departments, maintain safety during construction, and protect the surrounding landscape.” The result is a new, energy-efficient lighting system designed to improve visibility along one of the campus’s most traveled routes. The upgraded lighting operates from dusk to dawn and provides brighter, more consistent illumination for students walking to residence halls, bus stops, classrooms, and campus facilities.
With phase one now fully complete, the upgraded system significantly improves nighttime visibility and strengthens overall safety along one of Cook/Douglass’s most traveled corridors. This project reflects Rutgers’ commitment to listening to student concerns and acting on them. Improved lighting plays a vital role in supporting a secure and welcoming campus environment, especially during evening hours and the winter months when daylight is limited.
Your voice matters, and together we continue working to make Rutgers a safer place to live, learn, and connect.
Great teamwork, IP&O!
This article can be found in the IP&O Insights Newsletter March Issue.
