Redefining Downtown Berkeley Heights

The Park at Berkeley Heights (theparkatnj.com) in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey, is redefining what a downtown district can be. Spanning 319,000 square feet across 11 stories, the development anchors a new mixed-use hub that blends homes, retail, amenities and structured parking into a cohesive district.

What began as a historic office complex is now being transformed into a modern urban neighborhood with 179 residential units, six street-level retail spaces and a rooftop pool designed to foster connection, convenience and modern living. From early planning through installation, the development team prioritized partners known for quality workmanship and schedule certainty, selecting proven, flame-free press connection systems built on Viega press technology to accelerate delivery without compromising safety or performance.

Meeting an Aggressive Construction Timeline with the Power of Press Technology

A key goal of the project was to deliver high-quality homes with gas-fired stoves in every apartment while meeting an aggressive construction timeline. To get there, the developer partnered with Contemporary Plumbing & Heating Inc., a New Jersey contractor with deep experience in high-rise and commercial projects. Their scope was ambitious: 71,000 feet of pipe joined with 32,000 Viega MegaPress® G fittings. Engineered specifically for carbon-steel gas and fuel applications, MegaPressG delivers fast, reliable, flame-free connections resulting in reduced labor hours, streamlining inspections and helping the schedule hold firm even as the project scaled up.

“We were doing a floor a week and then a floor every week and a half. If this were not a press project, I would think you would need at least 35 [workers] to keep the same pace if we were soldering,” said Nicholas Galizia, Vice President of Contemporary Plumbing & Heating.

Why Contractors Trust Viega MegaPressG

Designed for speed, reliability and safety on demanding gas and fuel installations, MegaPressG is available from 1/2 inch up to 4 inches and uses Viega’s proprietary press-connection method to create permanent, leak-tight joints in seconds. For high-rise work where labor optimization and hot-work risk are constant concerns, this combination is decisive.

Key features:

• HNBR sealing element rated for gas and fuel-oil service
• Smart Connect® technology to identify unpressed fittings during testing
• Zinc–nickel coating for corrosion resistance and durability
• Flame-free installation that reduces fire risk and simplifies permitting

These advantages cut total installed cost and reduce project risk, especially on complex, schedule-driven developments like mixed-use towers where multiple trades share tight floor plates and access windows.

Precision in Practice: 71,000 Feet of Pipe, 32,000 MegaPressG Fittings

At The Park at Berkeley Heights, productivity and predictability were essential. With dozens of units per floor and repeatable apartment stacks, Contemporary Plumbing leveraged MegaPressG to standardize routing, speed up rough-in and minimize punch-list items. Pressing in seconds meant fewer bottlenecks between trades, more consistent quality across crews and faster floor turnovers, which are key drivers when the target pace is a floor per week.

Because press connections eliminate open flames, the team also reduced hot-work permits and associated mitigation, improving safety and simplifying coordination with building management and fire protection. The press connection technology provided a repeatable, inspection-friendly process that fit the project’s quality-control approach: verify prep, align, press and move on. The result was a cleaner, quieter workflow that supported both schedule and safety goals.

The Power of Press: Proven in the Field

Across similar high-performance jobs, contractors increasingly turn to Viega ProPress® for copper and Viega MegaPress for carbon steel to build faster without sacrificing quality. Press technology reduces the variability inherent in soldering or threading, shortens cycle times and produces consistent, code-compliant results. Fewer variables also mean fewer callbacks, protecting margins and schedules.

“We implemented press fittings due to manpower and speed issues. We didn’t necessarily have the manpower, but it was a nice trade-off. We’re paying significantly less in labor,” Galizia shared. On training, he added, “Once you teach the guys the system, you’re not necessarily so worried about leaks. They understand prep, installation and alignment. The press will hold.”

For project managers, the benefits stack up: predictable production rates, simplified logistics, easier sequencing between trades and a safer jobsite with less disruption. For owners and developers, those efficiencies translate into earlier occupancy, reduced risk and a more dependable path to revenue, which are critical advantages in today’s market.

Partnership, Innovation and Community Impact

By standardizing on Viega press technology, Contemporary Plumbing helped keep The Park at Berkeley Heights on schedule while upholding high-quality and safety standards. The approach minimized hot-work risk, reduced labor hours and aligned with modern construction priorities: cleaner jobsites, fewer interruptions and performance backed by proven systems. Just as important, the project supported local jobs and contributed to downtown revitalization, bringing new residents, retailers and economic activity to Berkeley Heights.

The transformation of an office complex into a mixed-use district highlights how thoughtful design, reliable systems and strong partnerships can produce continuous community benefits in an evolving urban landscape. When teams can build faster and safer, they can also deliver more for residents and businesses, activating the street, sustaining local employment and enhancing the tax base. With efficient, press-based mechanical systems under the hood, the development team turned complexity into repeatable craft, aligning daily production with long-term performance.

For another example of craftsmanship and reliability in action, explore Wimpy’s Plumbing & Air – Three Generations of Craftsmanship and Innovation, a Viega project spotlight that showcases how press technology helps contractors deliver quality work at speed.