New Jersey State House

The New Jersey State House is the capitol building of the U.S. state of New Jersey and is the third-oldest state house in continuous legislative use in the United States. Located in Trenton, it was originally built in 1792 and is notable for its close proximity to the state border with Pennsylvania, which makes it the closest capitol building to a state border. The building accommodates both the New Jersey Legislature's Senate and General Assembly chambers, offices of the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and various state government departments.

The State House has experienced numerous expansions and renovations to meet the growing needs of the state since its original construction. Designed by Jonathan Doane, the original structure has seen architectural inputs from other notable architects across the centuries. The State House underwent a significant restoration and modernization project in 1987, and another renovation project that started in 2017, with a major focus on the Governor's Office and related Executive Branch agencies.

The New Jersey State House deviates from the architectural trend of most U.S. capitol buildings, which are reminisicent of the U.S. Capitol, and is integrated into an urban setting instead of a park-like campus. It offers daily tours to the public and provides an educational platform for middle and high school students.

History
After the Legislature relocated to Trenton from Perth Amboy in 1790, it purchased 3.75 acres land for £250. Construction on the new state house, designed by Philadelphia-based architect Jonathan Doane, began in 1792. The Doane building was covered in stucco, measured 150 x and housed the Senate and House chambers in opposite wings. To meet the demands of the growing state, the structure was expanded several times during the 19th century. In 1845, Philadelphia architect John Notman created a three-stepped office wing on the north side of the original building. An expansion of the river-side portico occurred in 1865. In 1871, architect Samuel Sloan was commissioned to design new wings to house both legislative chambers. On March 21, 1885, a large fire destroyed the West State Street wing. Architect Lewis Broome led the reconstruction of the building in a simplified Second Empire style. He added a new rotunda and dome, as well as limestone facing. In 1891, James Moylan, an architect and sitting assemblyman, led the replacement of the Assembly wing. He redesigned it in a late Victorian style, rotating the wing to be parallel to the building's center wing. There was also an addition to the west wing to add private offices for the governor and judges, as well as a third floor added to the south end of the center wing. In 1900, the wing was extended again. In 1903, Merchantville architect Arnold Moses reconstructed the Senate wing in the American Renaissance style. The New Jersey State House's original east wing was replaced with a four-story office section in 1906 and attained its current size in 1912 with extensions to the east and west wing. The only major change in the decades since has been modernization of the main corridor in 1950.

Modern renovation
A lengthy renovation and restoration project began in 1987. The project encompassed the legislative section of the building, an upgrade of mechanical and electrical systems, and the construction of the South Addition (office space). A parking garage, pedestrian tunnel, and other amenities were also constructed.

In 2017, a $300M restoration of the entire building mainly focused on the Governor's Office and related Executive Branch agencies began and was scheduled to finish in 2023. The Governor's Office and other areas that were closed for renovation were officially re-opened at a dedication ceremony on May 1, 2023.

Design
The New Jersey State House is unusual among state capitol buildings in the United States, the majority of which are reminiscent of the U.S. Capitol. The building consists of two parallel structures connected by the dome-capped rotunda, resembling the letter H, with its long arm parallel to State Street. A long portico wing, added by Notman and subsequently enlarged, extends west from the rotunda toward the Delaware River. To this portico, a number of architecturally dissimilar, unusually shaped structures have been added. These structures have been the subject of subsequent renovations to blend them with the original wing. The State House is set not on a park-like campus, as are many state houses, rather it is integrated into an urban setting along historic State Street and is surrounded by other legislative buildings. The most scenic view of the building is from the west, near the Delaware River, and is the side dominated by the various additions. Viewed from State Street, the dome is scarcely visible and there is little sense of the scale or design of the building. The Governor's office occupies the remaining portion of the original 1792 State House.

Tours
Tours are offered daily Monday through Saturday, except state holidays. The tours typically include the Senate and Assembly chambers galleries, party conference rooms, the rotunda and Governor's Office reception room. Middle and high school teachers can receive a grant from the Eagleton Institute to cover the cost of transportation for field trips to take tours of the New Jersey State House.