Officials from the Union County Improvement Authority (UCIA), Union County, and Union College of Union County (UCNJ) gathered on Nov. 5, to mark a major construction milestone with a topping off ceremony for the $35 million expansion of the college’s Physical Education Center (PECK) on the Cranford campus.
The ceremony featured the placement and signing of the final structural steel beam by county leadership, college administrators, project partners, and student-athletes. The milestone comes just over a year after ground was broken on the project in October 2025.
The project transforms the existing 42,000-square-foot facility into a modern athletic hub and academic center designed to meet the standards of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) and the Garden State Athletic Conference (GSAC).
Planned facility features include:
- An NJCAA-regulation basketball court with enhanced spectator seating.
- A dedicated wrestling room and expanded weight training facilities.
- Modernized athletic training suites and multipurpose spaces.
- Integrated academic classrooms to support sports management and health-related curricula.
UCNJ sponsors 14 NJCAA athletic teams, with at least five expected to host regional competitions in the upgraded center: men’s and women’s volleyball, men’s and women’s basketball, and men’s wrestling. Additionally, the expanded space will give the college the capacity to bring major campus gatherings—including winter and spring commencement ceremonies—back on campus.
Project leaders highlighted the regional collaboration required to bring the capital improvement project to fruition.
“Raising the final beam brings us one step closer to delivering a state-of-the-art athletic hub and student resource center that benefits UCNJ students and the broader Union County community,” Bibi Taylor, Ed.D., Executive Director, Union County Improvement Authority, said.
New Jersey Senate President Nicholas Scutari reflected on the project’s personal significance and broader public investment impact:
“This project is very close to my heart. I spent a couple of summers at Union College, earning credits that helped me graduate sooner and get a head start on my career. Through our partnership with the Union County Improvement Authority, County Commissioners, and Union College, we are putting public dollars to work to reinvest in our communities and build facilities that make a real difference for residents,” he said.
UCIA Chairman Christopher Kolibas added:
“The facility will give UCNJ room to grow its athletic programs and academic offerings, and it will become a valuable resource for Union County residents for years to come. We’re proud of the progress and look forward to seeing it completed next fall.”
With structural steel placement complete, the project stands at approximately 30% completion.
Cranford-based contractor M&M Construction Company, Inc. will next begin installing the building’s exterior precast concrete panels. Substantial completion and final opening are scheduled for fall 2027.
