Stonehill at West Orange Honored with New Jersey Future’s Smart Growth Award 

New Jersey Future has recognized Stonehill at West Orange with a prestigious Smart Growth Award as part of its 23rd annual program celebrating projects that embody forward-thinking design, sustainable development, and equitable revitalization.

The award will be presented at a ceremony on October 9, 2025, at the South Orange Performing Arts Center, where seven innovative projects and one Leadership Award honoree will be honored for their transformative impact on New Jersey communities.

A Model of Adaptive Redevelopment

Stonehill at West Orange is a 425-unit, mixed-income rental community that transformed an underutilized office complex into vibrant, environmentally conscious housing with extensive onsite amenities and access to public conveniences. By prioritizing adaptive reuse, community-centered amenities, and ecological sensitivity, the project exemplifies the very principles that New Jersey Future’s Smart Growth Awards were designed to highlight.

“This project represents the best of smart growth—repurposing land to meet today’s housing needs while creating lasting value for the broader community,” said Adam Alexander, Director of Planning, Landscape Architecture, and Design.

Transforming the Site

Bohler’s planning, landscape architecture, and design team played a pivotal role in bringing Stonehill to life. The firm designed a 23,000-square-foot outdoor pool amenity courtyard—featuring the largest pool in developer BNE’s portfolio, complete with a wet deck and seating ledges.

The site’s complex topography and existing wetlands required strategic solutions, including the protection of riparian buffers, careful plant species selection, and the integration of rain gardens for stormwater management. Bohler also incorporated community-forward features such as two dog parks (later dedicated to the Township), walking paths, landscape lighting, wind art sculptures, and more, enhancing the aesthetic, recreational, and ecological appeal of the community.

From schematic design to construction documentation, Bohler ensured that the project’s amenities not only complemented the development’s architecture but also reinforced its identity as a welcoming, sustainable community.

Since 2002, New Jersey Future’s Smart Growth Awards have recognized more than 150 projects, plans, and policies that exemplify sound land use and sustainable development principles. Honorees are chosen for their ability to strengthen communities while preserving New Jersey’s natural and built environments.

This year’s winners range from adaptive reuse and transit-oriented development to affordable housing and waterway activation. “These projects are not just buildings, they are community anchors and powerful examples of smart growth in action,” said Peter Kasabach, executive director of New Jersey Future.

Read more, and browse more winners here.