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

  • Quattrocchi Kwok Architects Opens New Office in Denver

    Education planning and design firm Quattrocchi Kwok Architects (QKA) recently announced that it has opened a new office in Denver, Colo., the firm’s third overall. QKA is headquartered in Santa Rosa, Calif., and runs an East Bay Area office in Oakland.

  • Deferred Maintenance Issues Growing at Universities, Gordian Reports

    U.S. colleges and universities are falling increasingly behind on facilities maintenance and repair, according to Gordian’s 13th annual State of Facilities in Higher Education report. The deferred capital renewal burden has reached $156 per gross square foot, an 8% increase over the previous year.

  • Phoenix School District Breaks Ground on New Prep Academy

    The Creighton Elementary School District near Phoenix, Ariz., recently broke ground on a campus replacement for Biltmore Preparatory Academy, according to a news release. The new space will allow the school to expand its enrollment by 50 percent for K–8 students and accommodate modern, collaborative learning styles.

  • USC Launches Major AI Initiative After $200M Gift

    The University of Southern California in Los Angeles, Calif., recently announced that it has launched a “transformational” new AI initiative thanks to a $200M gift, according to a news release. The project will leverage AI toward breakthroughs and innovations in subjects like the health sciences, business, security, and the arts.