The unwelcoming, hulking structures that bustle more than 75,000 people commuting to work or play in New Jersey’s largest city are getting radically transformed — the walls at Newark’s Gateway buildings are finally coming down.

At least, figuratively.

“It’s time for Newark to invite people to the eclectic, diverse city,” said John Saraceno Jr., co-founder of Onyx Equities. “We’re blowing it out, raising the ceiling, opening things up so light can come in.”

“This is the epicenter,” he said as he walked around the Gateway buildings in the heart of Newark’s downtown. “Everything emanates out of it. Everything will improve if this hub is great.”

Onyx, which purchased three of the Gateway buildings and their connecting concourses that shuttle pedestrians between Newark Penn Station and the Prudential Center, will invest $35 million to renovate the lobbies and common spaces linking more two million square-feet of office space that houses law firms, media outlets, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority and headquarters for U.S. Sens. Cory Booker and Robert Menendez.

Renderings of the atrium inside the Gateway 1 building.

“It’s long overdue ... the Gateway overall has had this disconnection from Newark,” said Aisha Glover, president and CEO of the Newark Alliance. “Especially with their blowing out the ground floor retail, it’ll help force people out. Whether you are leaving the city or going to a game or a show.”

A glass two-story atrium with a metallic exterior will now greet commuters exiting Newark Penn Station. The so-called “jewel box” will light up at night and help encourage foot traffic that for too long has been confined to elevated, enclosed sky bridges. Existing retail will be reconfigured and opened up to the concourse or ground-floor levels to invite the public. The terrazzo and granite floors will be replaced with sleek concrete emblazoned with a train track design.

“We don’t want to create a space where we build the walls higher,” Saraceno said. The design will soften the interior with wood paneling, new lighting and floors to achieve an industrial feel, somewhere between “comfort and grit, because that’s Newark.”

Gregory’s Coffee, a Manhattan-based specialty coffee shop, is opening next year in the Gateway. So will Better Spaces, a wellness-focused company that provides tailored amenity spaces.

The redevelopment plan comes amid a major revitalization of the area. Mulberry Commons, 3-acre space across from the Prudential Center, opened earlier this year. A second-phase of the project will erect a pedestrian bridge crossing over McCarter Highway, connecting the Ironbound section of Newark, Penn Station and the Prudential arena.

There’s also Ironside Newark, 450,000 square feet of converted warehouse space that opens up into the park. It will serve as the new headquarters for candy giant Mars Wrigley and welcome The Halal Guys and New York coffee shop Oren’s Daily Roast.

“In many respects, people look at the Gateway like it’s an eyesore," Glover, who works with developers and helped spearhead the city’s failed bid for Amazon’s second headquarters, said. “It’s very symbolic to be activating and bringing it back to life.”

Prudential built the cluster of buildings more than three decades ago, which were sold to different owners over time. The buildings serve as an indoor ferry for the thousands who arrive in Newark for concerts or games at the Prudential Center or the 6,000 workers inside. Saraceno purchased the Gateway 1, 2 and 4 buildings plus the garage in a $300 million deal last December. Two of the buildings were in foreclosure, he said.

“There’s nothing of this scale, no one’s done this in the state,” Saraceno said. “As Gateway goes, Newark goes and the state goes.”

The Gateway concourse.

Lobby for the Gateway 4 building.

Karen Yi may be reached at kyi@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at @karen_yi or on Facebook.

Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.com’s newsletters.