DIGroup Architecture's Inventive Designs Launch $30+M Modernization for Union College

Photo Caption: Pictured at the Union College of Union County New Jersey (UCNJ) Physical Education Center groundbreaking are (L-R): DIG Project Architect Madelyn Pena, Associate Principal and Senior Project Manager Kelli Glasgow and Production and Construction Administrator Neeta Purav.  ~ Photo: Courtesy of DIGroup Architecture 

Cranford, NJ [October 29, 2025] – Inventive design concepts produced by DIGroup Architecture (DIG), a leading design firm specializing in educational and recreational facilities, are central to the recent groundbreaking of a $30+ million modernization of the Physical Education Center (PECK) at Union College of Union County (UCNJ), for which the firm is serving as the Architect of Record.

Executed in partnership with the Union County Improvement Authority (UCIA), the project will transform the existing 42,000-square-foot building into a high-tech, state-of-the-art hub for student athletics, campus life and community gathering place. Upon completion, it will be the centerpiece of the UCNJ campus, located in Cranford, N.J.

“This modernization represents a profound investment in UCNJ's student success and community engagement,” said Vincent Myers, president, who is spearheading the DIG project team. “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.”

Revitalization of the PECK facility is designed to meet the holistic needs of today's diverse student body, focusing on promoting both academic rigor and physical wellness. DIG's design approach centers on creating sustainable, flexible facilities that can adapt to future educational and community programming needs.

“This is an exciting moment in the PECK's life cycle, as it delivers such a comprehensive transformation,” said DIG Associate Principal Kelli Glasgow, 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.”

Specifically designed to support UCNJ's National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) and Garden State Athletic Conference (GSAC) programs, facility enhancements and new features will include:

• Improved seating and expanded athletic areas that prioritize safety and compliance
• Dedicated room for wrestling
• Modernized weight-training center
• NJCAA-regulation basketball court
• Updated physical training rooms
• Integration of multi-purpose rooms and academic classrooms, bridging the gap between sports and scholarly pursuits such as sports management

In total, the project includes a 30,000 SF addition and a 30,500 SF renovation. The transformation will see the existing gymnasium converted into two floors, with new locker rooms and a multipurpose room on the upper floor. The addition will feature a new gymnasium with seating for 3,000 occupants, an e-gaming space – which is growing in popularity at the collegiate level and beyond – and new athletic offices. Completion is projected for fall, 2027.

Once finalized, the modernized PECK facility will not only serve as a dedicated athletic hub but will also enhance community connection, providing UCNJ with the capacity to host major campus events, including on-campus commencement ceremonies. The general contractor is Cranford-based M&M Construction Company, Inc.

The Union College project is the latest addition to DIG's Academic Studio portfolio, which reflects the firm's Architecture for Change axiom and a commitment to shaping communities through purpose-driven design. Other higher-education architect-of-record assignments include completions on behalf of Hofstra University, Kean University, Stockton University, Rutgers University, Rowan University, Montclair State University, Stony Brook University, Hofstra University, Lehman College, NYU, New York Institute of Technology, Brooklyn College, Bronx Community College and St. John's University.

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