As early as the 18thcentury through the end of the Second World War, mining companies in the Highlands Region of NJ were busy producing iron ore which helped feed the industrial growth of New York and New Jersey. Over the years, the mines remained out of the spotlight and were largely forgotten. Recently, however, their existence has led to the infamous sinkholes on Route 80 creating havoc for commuters and the smaller neighborhood streets.

A little-known fact is that Miners working in those mines relied on canaries as a safety measure. In the early 20th century Canaries were used as an early-warning signal for toxic gases, primarily carbon monoxide during mining. The birds, being more sensitive to changes in air quality would show symptoms before the miners, who would then have a chance to escape or put on protective respirators.

The PSA office (pictured in the slider above) was built in 1912 and has a rich history of tenants. One such occupant was Hartz Mountain Incorporated, who bred canaries in the building for use in New Jersey’s local mines. In honor of that rich history, PSA named the building “The Aviary”.

The Aviary is a poured in place concrete building and displays an interesting mix of Art Nouveau and Art Deco styles. PSA is proud of our building’s history and have embraced the name. Our meeting spaces throughout the office match the building's theme with names like: The Coop, Nest, Hatchery, Perch, and of course our oval conference room, The Egg. We also have a flock of printed birds flying through our stairwell representing the alma maters of our staff members.