Cranford – UCNJ Union College of Union County, NJ leaders, Board members, and students joined Senate President Nicholas P. Scutari, members of the Union County Board of County Commissioners, and the Union County Improvement Authority (UCIA) for the topping-off ceremony marking a major construction milestone in the College’s $35 million Physical Education Center (PECK) expansion at its Cranford Campus. During the ceremony, College and County officials, members of the UCNJ Board of Trustees, project partners, and student-athletes signed the final structural beam.
In a statement released by the Union County Improvement Authority, Senate President Scutari reflected on his personal connection to the College and the importance of the project. “This project is very close to my heart. I spent a couple of summers at UCNJ, 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 UCNJ, we are putting public dollars to work to reinvest in our communities and build facilities that make a real difference for residents.”
Building on that shared connection, UCNJ President Dr. Margaret M. McMenamin underscored the significance of the project and the College’s appreciation for its partners. “This is an exciting milestone for UCNJ and our students,” stated Dr. McMenamin. “The expansion of the PECK will provide modern facilities for our students while creating new opportunities for academic programs and campus events. It is especially meaningful to have the support of Senate President Scutari, a proud former UCNJ student, alongside Dr. Bibi Taylor, Executive Director of the Union County Improvement Authority, and the Union County Board of County Commissioners. Their continued investment is helping shape the College’s future and strengthen the opportunities we provide our students.”
The project will transform the existing 42,000-square-foot building into a modern athletic and academic facility. Planned improvements include an NJCAA-regulation-size basketball court, a new wrestling room, a weight-training center, a modernized athletic training room, a multipurpose room, academic classrooms, improved spectator seating, and expanded athletic areas designed to meet current safety and competition standards. The renovated facility will support UCNJ’s 14 National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) teams, with at least five teams expected to host competitions in the building, including men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s volleyball, and men’s wrestling. Beyond athletics, the project will create opportunities to strengthen sports-related academic programs, such as sports management, and provide additional space for major College events, including UCNJ’s spring and winter commencement ceremonies.
UCNJ is a public comprehensive community college that provides quality, affordable, accessible educational programs to the greater Union County region. It is the first of New Jersey’s 18 two-year colleges, serving both career-minded and transfer-oriented students since 1933. The College offers a wide variety of academic programs and extracurricular activities. UCNJ provides many experiential learning opportunities such as access to the Bloomberg Business Center, Innovation Center, and Student Research Lab Additionally, students at UCNJ attend one of the top community colleges in the country as designated by the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program. To learn more about UCNJ, visit www.ucc.edu.
