wers ▁were ▁designed ▁in ▁the ▁International ▁Style ▁by ▁architect ▁Ludwig ▁M ies ▁van ▁der ▁Ro he ▁and ▁opened ▁in ▁ 1 9 6 0 , ▁originally ▁known ▁as ▁Col onna de ▁Park . ▁The ▁to wers ▁are ▁built ▁in ▁the ▁modern ist ▁style ▁of ▁" t ow ers ▁in ▁the ▁park ," ▁which ▁advoc ated ▁dense ▁high - r ise ▁housing ▁complex es ▁set ▁within ▁par ks ▁and ▁open ▁spaces ▁( which ▁has ▁since ▁fallen ▁out ▁of ▁fashion ▁in ▁favor ▁of ▁mixed - use ▁and ▁low - r ise ▁development ). ▁So on ▁after ▁comple ting ▁Manh attan ' s ▁Se agram ▁Building , ▁M ies ▁designed ▁the ▁three ▁to wers ▁near ▁Branch ▁Brook ▁Park , ▁north ▁of ▁Dow nt own ▁New ark ▁and ▁adjacent ▁University ▁He ights ▁and ▁Inter state ▁ 2 8 0 . ▁ ▁Priv ately ▁owned , ▁the ▁buildings ▁were ▁intended ▁to ▁bring ▁middle - in come ▁families ▁to ▁the ▁area ▁of ▁the ▁Christopher ▁Columb us ▁Hom es ▁— ▁a ▁cluster ▁of ▁low - in come ▁a partment ▁buildings , ▁or ▁projects , ▁which ▁were ▁eventually ▁demol ished . ▁The ▁Pav il ion ▁A part ments ▁were ▁sold ▁in ▁April ▁ 2 0 1 8 . ▁ ▁Historical ▁Sign ific ance ▁The ▁Pav il ion ▁and ▁Col onna de ▁A part ments ▁possess ▁exception al ▁importance ▁in ▁the ▁ 2 0 th ▁century ▁social ▁history ▁of ▁New ark , ▁urban ▁planning ▁and ▁development , ▁and ▁Modern ist ▁architecture . ▁The ▁district ▁has ▁the ▁distinction ▁of ▁being ▁New ▁Jersey '