TOMS RIVER, N.J. – Ocean County’s recently occupied senior and human services building was abruptly closed Tuesday after a plumbing problem left the facility without water, sending employees home after the brand-new building that opened a year ago continues to plague the county.
Employees were told to leave around 11 a.m., according to staff members who contacted Shore News Network about conditions inside the building. An email sent to employees said the building was closed and county officials did not know when it would reopen, while a recorded message later Tuesday said the office was closed and expected to reopen Wednesday.
The plumbing issue was described as a system wide failure that shut off water to bathrooms and other facilities within the structure.
- Employees were sent home Tuesday after the building lost water service.
- The county moved workers into the long-delayed facility on July 30, 2025. It has allegedly been operating under a temporary occupancy approval since then.
- Staff members say they were instructed not to discuss problems at the building as questions continue over its final certificate of occupancy and because of legal issues with the developer, sources told Shore News Network.
- A call to confirm the closure went unanswered today.
Workers Sent Home After Building Loses Water
The latest trouble surfaced Tuesday morning when employees learned there was no running water in the building.
Staff members told Shore News Network that County Administrator Michael Fiure directed employees and professionals not to discuss the building’s problems. Shore News Network has not obtained a copy of that directive.
The message employees received about Tuesday’s closure offered no timetable for reopening, according to staff members. By about 1 p.m., however, a recorded message at the building said the facility was closed Tuesday and was expected to reopen Wednesday.
The message did not say what prompted the closure.
The building houses county offices serving seniors and other residents who rely on government assistance and public programs.
Problems Follow Years of Delays and Rising Costs
Tuesday’s plumbing failure comes after years of delays surrounding the county’s new social services complex.
Shore News Network reported in July 2025 that the project had fallen nearly three years behind its original completion schedule while costs climbed dramatically. Weeks later, the county rushed to open the troubled building because of growing media interest with the facility.
Reports of empty offices, leaking roofs and other problems have plagued the building despite its enormous price tag.
The building also houses offices for U.S. Congressman Chris Smith. Calls to that office also went unanswered today.
The three-story, 121,000-square-foot complex was originally projected at $39.5 million and was expected to be completed in 2022. The building was designed to consolidate county operations and accommodate hundreds of employees. That number soon rose to $56.8 million after years of delays and construction issues, bringing the overall price tag to over $60 million.
The county later moved toward a limited opening of the building after years of construction and engineering problems.
Workers ultimately moved into the facility July 30, 2025.
Staff members say the building has continued operating under a temporary certificate of occupancy while county officials and contractors work toward obtaining final occupancy approval. The specific outstanding items preventing final approval have not been publicly detailed.
Tuesday’s loss of water now adds another problem to a building that was supposed to replace aging facilities and provide a modern home for critical county services.
A Project Once Promoted as a Major Taxpayer Savings
When Ocean County announced the project, officials said consolidating services would eliminate expensive leases and reduce long-term operating costs.
“This building will serve as a centerpiece for the programs that help our residents who are going through difficult times,” Commissioner Gary Quinn said when the project was being promoted.
Earlier Shore News Network reporting on the project found officials initially expected the new facility to save at least $3 million annually by eliminating lease payments.
Instead, construction dragged on for years.
Previous Shore News Network reporting put construction costs at approximately $56.8 million, with another $7 million spent to acquire the property, bringing the overall project investment to roughly $63 million. Previous problems reported at the facility included faulty windows, roof leaks and other construction deficiencies.
County officials had also faced potential financial penalties associated with delays and violations connected with completing the project, according to information provided to Shore News Network. The county has not commented on those allegations or provided a detailed public accounting of any such penalties or final cost projections for the project.
For employees, Tuesday’s problem was much more immediate: there was no water in the building, and they were sent home. Toilets and sinks stopped working.
Whether the facility will reopen as expected on Wednesday depends on the plumbing problem being resolved.
The building closed Tuesday because it had no running water.
Employees were sent home around 11 a.m. after a plumbing problem disrupted water service.
Workers moved into the long-delayed building last year.
Employees began occupying the facility July 30, 2025, following years of construction delays and escalating project costs.
Questions remain about the building’s final occupancy approval.
Staff members say the facility has been operating under temporary occupancy approval while outstanding issues are addressed.
