Union County Improvement Authority has recently announced a $30 million renovation project on the Union College of Union County Physical Education Center.
At a public meeting on 9/9, the Board of Commissioners voted to award the construction contract to Cranford company, M&M Construction Company.
The modernization of the current 42,000-square-foot facility will be designed to support National Junior College Athletic Association and the Garden State Athletic Conference athletic programs.
Among the key upgrades:
- Expanded sports-related academic offerings from sports management to community program partnerships.
- Improved seating and ample athletic space to ensure safety and compliance.
- A new wrestling room, weight training center, NJCAA regulation basketball court, modernized physical training room, multi-purpose room, as well as academic classrooms.
UCIA Director Bibi Taylor spoke on the future plans for the facility.
“The reimagined PECK will transform the heart of campus athletics and community engagement at UCNJ,” she said. “The new PECK will serve as the athletic hub and student resource center for UCNJ, enhancing the college’s ability to address athletic and academic needs, as well as host events that strengthen connections with the community. We look forward to seeing the transformation of this building into the state-of-the-art facility that our students and community deserve.”
The renovated facility will allow UCNJ to host the college’s spring and winter commencement ceremonies at a significantly lower cost in the future. Currently, UCNJ hosts its spring commencement outdoors in its large parking lot and is subject to weather conditions. In the winter, it relies on expensive external venues.
UCIA Chairperson Christoper Kolibas also spoke on the benefits.
“Our student athletes are an important part of the UCNJ community,” he said. “Modernizing PECK will give our community a cutting-edge facility they can be proud of. We are excited to be a part of this next chapter for the UCNJ athletics program.”
