UCNJ Launches $30M Modernization of Physical Education Center

The Union College of Union County (UCNJ) in Cranford, N.J., recently broke ground on a new $30-million modernization project for its Physical Education Center (PECK), according to a news release. The college partnered with DIGroup Architecture for the project’s design, transitioning the existing 42,000-square-foot structure into a campus hub for student athletics and campus life. Completion is scheduled for fall 2027.

New amenities will include expanded athletic areas with improved seating, a dedicated wrestling center, an upgraded weight-training center, an NJCAA-regulation basketball court, multiple physical training rooms, and the addition of multi-purpose and academic classrooms, according to the news release. The project consists of 30,500 square feet of renovation and 30,000 square feet of new additions.

“This modernization represents a profound investment in UCNJ’s student success and community engagement,” said Vincent Myers, principal at DIGroup. “Our design delivers on a vision that the PECK facility will be a high-performance, flexible resource, serving as a multi-purpose venue, from hosting competitive NJCAA athletics to serving as an academic ‘classroom’ for programs like sports management, for decades to come.”

The PECK facility will be “the centerpiece of the UCNJ campus,” according to the news release, and host major campus events including graduation ceremonies.

“This is an exciting moment in the PECK’s life cycle, as it delivers such a comprehensive transformation,” said Kelli Glasgow, DIG Associate Principal and senior project manager. “By integrating ultramodern facilities, complete with new academic spaces and capacity for large community events, the new PECK will truly maximize value and usage for the college and the greater Union County community.”

The college also partnered with M&M Construction Company, Inc., for general contracting services.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • DLR Group Appoints New K–12 Education Practice Leader

    Integrated design firm DLR Group recently announced that it has named its new global K–12 Education leader, Senior Principal Carmen Wyckoff, AIA, LEED AP, according to a news release. Her teams have members in all 36 of the firm’s offices in the U.S., Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Europe, and Asia.

  • UT System Board of Regents Approves $108M Housing Complex

    The University of Texas System Board of Regents recently announced the approval of a new, $108-million housing complex at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), according to a news release. The facility will stand four stories and have a total of 456 new beds for freshmen students.

  • University of Kentucky Receives $150M Gift Toward New Arts District

    The University of Kentucky’s Board of Trustees recently received a $150-million gift from The Bill Gatton Foundation, according to a university news release, to build a new arts district on the campus in Lexington, Ky. The new district will feature a new College of Fine Arts building and a multi-hundred-seat theater, among other amenities.

  • textured paper collage shows a school building on fire as a fire truck sprays water into the flames

    Why a Fire Loss Is More than Flames

    We've all seen what fire damage can do to a property, but the types of damage building owners often encounter after a fire loss can exceed expectations. Having full awareness of the different forms of damage properties can sustain helps owners respond faster, reduce continued damage, and get back on the road to recovery in short order.

Digital Edition