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

  • Chartwells Launches Campus Dining Evaluation Framework

    Contract food-service management provider Chartwells Higher Education recently announced the launch of BLUEPRINT, according to a news release. The evaluation framework was designed to provide a data-driven and customizable roadmap towards optimizing campus dining services and, by extension, the student experience.

  • Miami University Approves New $242M Multipurpose Arena

    Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, recently announced that its Board of Trustees has approved construction of a new multipurpose arena at Cook Field, according to university news. The $242-million project will serve as a new centralized hub for student life and create space for economic development on campus.

  • UTampa Breaks Ground on STEM Academic Facility

    The University of Tampa in Tampa, Fla., recently broke ground on one of its largest academic facilities ever, according to a news release. The Dickey Science Innovation Center will measure 153,000 square feet and has a scheduled completion date of fall 2028.

  • Tennessee Middle School Completes Health, Life Safety Renovations

    The Giles County Board of Education in Pulaski, Tenn., recently announced that a series of renovation projects has been completed at Bridgeforth Middle School, according to a news release. The district partnered with Wold Architects & Engineers and Brindley Construction to modernize building systems at one of the district’s oldest schools.