Category: News
Route 66 Museum Shares History of The Mother Road
With the centennial celebration of Route 66 kicking off in just over a year, businesses and organizations along the iconic Mother Road are already planning for the influx of tourism and travelers from around the world. Our long-time client Larry West is among them.
Larry, who had purchased a large collection of restored antique gas station items and Route 66 memorabilia from Duane Campbell of Union, MO, had a vision to convert an old 2,400 SF church located along the “Main Street of America” in Pacific, MO, and next door to his contracting business, NB West, into a museum where the collection could be shared with other Route 66 aficionados, like himself. Cochran’s architecture department helped him make that vision a reality.
Many of the exterior windows were replaced with overhead garage doors. The flooring throughout was removed down to the concrete slab. An old stage area and some partition walls were taken down, and outside, a canopy was added to complete the historic gas station image. The result is a building designed to invoke a classic service station from the 1950s.
Campbell’s Service Station at 18625 Historic Route 66 in Pacific, MO is now open for visitors, although currently by appointment only. However, if you drive by and see the gate open, Larry invites you to pull over and come inside! The space, which can hold up to 65 people and includes a kitchenette, also is available to rent as an event venue.
For more information on the museum, the collection and Larry, go to https://tourroute66.com.
Farmington WWTP Project Wins National Award
Cochran is proud to be recognized for our engineering design on improvements to the City of Farmington’s Northeast Wastewater Treatment Facility, which was named a Top Project for 2023 by Wastewater Digest Magazine. The project, which included aeration improvements, was completed in Spring 2023. You can read more about the project and watch a short video about it here. Bob Crossen, who wrote the article, noted that what made this project stand out to Wastewater Digest was the cost efficiencies – the City spent $500,000 on the improvements, but the solution is expected to save the City $80,000 annually in energy costs. We are most excited about the overall improved functionality of the plant and the improved quality of effluent being discharged. Credit goes to Cochran’s own Brian Gentges, designer; Bill Giessing of Brockmiller Construction, contractor; and Jaeger Aeration, manufacturers; and Larry Lacy, City of Farmington Public Works Director.
Club Car Wash
Cochran serves as the primary engineer firm for Club Car Wash, providing survey, engineering, and material testing services for 100+ locations throughout the mid-west (Missouri, Arkansas, Illinois, Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa and Oklahoma).
From inception to completion, our services include full civil design, due diligence, conceptual planning, preliminary site planning, zoning, attendance at public meetings, and preparation of construction documents through permitting for construction.
Oasis at Lakeport
The Oasis at Lakeport is making headlines across the country (from California to Florida), and Cochran is proud to be part of the world-class design team creating this new $300M family resort and entertainment district in Osage Beach, MO. Located at Highway 54 and Jeffries Road adjacent to the Grand Glaize Bridge, development plans call for amusement rides, hotels, restaurants, a marina and boardwalk. Cochran is pleased to be providing site design, including roadways, utilities and grading.
When it opens next year, this exciting development from SkyView Partners and Tegethoff Development will be a premier Midwest tourist destination and a game changer for the City of Osage Beach. Estimates are that Oasis at Lakeport will generate 500 jobs and bring an additional 500,000 visitors to Missouri.
Read more about it here:
- https://www.oasisatlakeport.com/
- https://www.lakeexpo.com/real_estate/city-unanimously-approves-oasis-at-lakeport-new-entertainment-district-on-lake-of-the-ozarks/article_f60e1754-0167-11ee-8e77-5783848b4fee.html
- https://www.news-leader.com/story/news/local/ozarks/now/2023/06/07/350-million-lake-of-the-ozarks-resort-set-to-open-in-2024/70294308007/
- https://khqa.com/news/local/osage-beach-aldermen-approve-plans-for-oasis-at-lakeport
- https://www.kansascity.com/news/business/development/article273694335.html
- https://www.sacbee.com/detour/article276107261.html
- https://www.miamiherald.com/detour/article276107261.html
New Wright City High School
This 84-acre tract of land on Roelker Road will soon be the home of a new Wright City High School. The $55M project includes a single-story building spanning 122,245 SF, parking lots, multiple access roads, and athletic fields.
Working with Bond Architects and the school district, Cochran completed land surveying, conceptual design, preliminary site plan, sanitary & sewer, permitting, and preparation of construction documents (full civil design). Construction was awarded to Wright Construction. Work began in January 2023 and is scheduled to be completed in October 2024.
New Pool Rendering
Cochran’s recent owner’s representative project made the front page of Franklin County’s newspaper, The Missourian. Cochran is providing owner’s representation services on the City of Washington’s new pool project. Westport Pools has been selected to provide the design for the aquatic center. A final design hasn’t been agreed upon.
The current design rendering includes a splash pad, a change in shade structures, removal of the proposed zip line and a new location for the rock climbing wall.
Franklin County Jail Expansion Halfway Complete
The Franklin County Jail expansion has reached its halfway point. The project consists of sheriff’s office, detention center addition and 911 communications facilities on a 33-acre lot. It is composed of a planned 47,000 square feet in new construction with extensive renovations and strengthening of the existing structure. Navigate Building Solutions is running the project.
Cochran is providing surveying, geotechnical, civil, and construction testing & inspection services for the project. Cochran conducted a geotechnical investigation for the proposed jail addition which included recommendations for remediation of uncontrolled fill, and soft soils. This project is currently under construction with Cochran providing construction testing & inspection.
The Missourian provided an update on its construction, that can be reached by clicking here.
Cochran Hired as Franklin County On-Call Engineering Firm
Cochran Engineering was hired by Franklin County to be its On-Call Engineering Firm.
Cochran, based out of Union, Missouri, has been used by the County in the past for a range of construction projects from transportation such as bridges and roads to working on civil engineering for the county’s sheriff office and jail. Cochran also completed civil engineering projects on the Franklin County Courthouse, Franklin County Judicial Center and Franklin County Government Center.
The Missourian, a newspaper based in Washington, Missouri in Franklin County wrote a story about Franklin County’s hire and can be viewed by clicking here. Cochran beat out IMEG Corporation, Heneghan and Associates, CDG Engineers and the Lochmueller Group.
New Haven Bridge Time Lapse Video
Cochran helped design a new pedestrian bridge in New Haven. The New Haven Independent News was able to take a time-lapse video of the project that can be viewed by clicking here!
Building Tomorrow’s Workforce – ECC Annual Report
2015 East Central College Annual Report
Cochran created the rendering shown on pages 14 and 15 for the renovation building project to the recently purchased building known formerly as the Gala Center. Cochran is the Architect on the Regional Center for Advanced Manufacturing and Workforce Training renovation project and designed the renovation to convert the current space of 19,807 square feet to 27,576 square feet. ECC was awarded an Economic Development Administration grant to be used for the renovation project. To read more about the Regional Center for Advanced Manufacturing and Workforce Training renovation project for East Central College please open the attached publication.
ENR – Missouri Lift Station
Posted in ENR: July 6/13, 2015
ENR Engineering News-Record, to read the article in the publication, see page C6.
College Trustees Approve Design Services for Project
Posted in The Missourian: Thursday, May 14, 2015, 12:00 pm
East Central College trustees Monday night unanimously approved a contract with Cochran Engineering for professional design services for the renovation of the former Gala Center.
The college recently purchased the 19,807-square-foot building — previously used as an event center — to house career and technical programs. The building is located southeast of the main campus and sits on 4.33 acres. It includes parking for 255 vehicles.
Renovations will include creating a lab space where program equipment can be set up, as well as classrooms for instruction and offices for personnel.
The professional design phase of the project will cost $137,000, which includes fees for architectural, civil, structural and mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire protection design.
The firm also provided separate fees for the design of a loading dock and in-fill of the existing courtyard patio.
Dr. Jon Bauer, ECC president, noted that until work begins, officials will not know whether any of the additional services will be required. If so, the board will be asked to approve an addendum to the contract, he said.
Trustees approved the center’s purchase in April. The college paid $1.2 million for the building and property.
“Cochran is the firm that actually designed that building,” Bauer told the board. It was built in 2007.
The firm also assessed the building when the college was researching whether or not to move forward with the purchase.
“They’re both very familiar with the building and already familiar with our existing space utilization and how that facility can be used,” Bauer said. “They are uniquely qualified to do the design work.”
Design work will take place over the summer, Bauer said, with bid requests to go out in the fall. Renovation is expected to continue into the spring with an anticipated move-in date at the close of the spring 2016 semester.
To learn more about other Cochran projects with East Central College.
Re-Dedication of the Audrain County Courthouse
A Re-Dedication of the Audrain County Courthouse Grounds and Memorials will be held on Armed Forces Day, Saturday, May 16th at 10:00 AM. The ceremony will begin on the east side of the courthouse lawn with the raising of the flag. Residents of Audrain County are encouraged to attend this historic event.
There will be many organizations from throughout the county participating in the event including 3175 MP Det1 First National Guard, Mexico, Audrain County VFW Post 3772, Vandalia VFW Post 2173, Mexico American Legion Post 26, Martinsburg American Legion Post 552, Laddonia Legion Post 510 and the Missouri Military Academy Choir.
The re-dedication will include the Lady of Liberty, Audrain County Veterans Memorials and the Exercise Tiger Memorial. The planning for the courthouse and grounds renovation began over three years ago and was completed May 1.
Fricks Market Earns Merchandising Award
Posted in The Missourian: Saturday, April 25, 2015, 6:32 pm | Updated: 8:14 am, Wed Apr 29, 2015.
Fricks Market, in Union, recently received a 2014 Excellence in Merchandising Award from the Springfield Division of Associated Wholesale Grocers Inc. The recognition came during a ceremony in Branson on April 7.
The division honors one grocery retailer for excellence in merchandising or marketing in each of 10 categories. Fricks earned the Excellence in Merchandising Award in recognition of its outstanding salesmanship and presentation of AWG Brands items.
Owner, Jennifer Newbanks, together with the store manager, Michelle Kohler, and Kyle Kohler, grocery manager, accepted the award on behalf of the store following a short video presentation highlighting the store’s overall merchandising excellence in the category.
Winners of the division awards also are eligible to compete in the AWG Corporate Excellence in Merchandising Awards presented during the wholesaler’s annual meeting held in Kansas City, Kan.
“Independent retailers work very hard to be the best in the grocery business every single day,” said Tim Bellanti, senior vice president and division manager of AWG-Springfield. “It is with great pride that we recognize those merchants who excel in the critical areas of merchandising that make them unique and special in their marketplace.”
Associated Wholesale Grocers Inc. is headquartered in Kansas City, Kan., and is the second-largest retailer-owned grocery wholesaler in the United States, serving more than 3,400 member grocery stores in over 30 states via its seven grocery distribution centers.
AWG-Springfield serves about 360 stores in Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas, Illinois, and Oklahoma.
Read more about Frick’s Market.
Commission moves Forward with Federal Process on Old Bridge
By Josh Mitchell, Missourian Staff Writer | Posted: Saturday, February 21, 2015, 1:00 pm
What will happen to the old Bend Road bridge remains unclear. The nearly 100 year old bridge near Pacific has been controversial as county officials move forward with a plan to tear down the bridge even though a local nonprofit group has expressed interest in preserving it as a hiking and biking trail. The bridge is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places, according to the Historic Bridge Foundation of Austin, Texas. Since the county is using federal money for the new bridge project, that means the county has to go through a federal Section 106 process under the National Historic Preservation Act before tearing down the old bridge. The new bridge project includes $150,000 in federal money to tear down the old bridge. The new bridge will be south of the existing bridge meaning the old one is not in its way. The Magi Foundation of Pacific has said it would like to preserve the old bridge, but the county commission has rejected the group’s interest and voted to move forward with demolition. But the Magi Foundation has vowed to keep up its efforts to save the bridge despite the county’s rejection.
This week, the county commission approved a contract amendment with Cochran Engineering of Union for $4,750 to get the federal process underway. The work will be done by Cochran’s sub-consultant, SCI Engineering of Union. Presiding County Commissioner John Griesheimer said part of the federal process involves making the old bridge available to be taken over by another party. However, just because a group makes a proposal to take the bridge, Griesheimer said it is his understanding that the county does not have to accept it. “It’s still our bridge,” Griesheimer asserted. Therefore, if a group makes an offer and the commission does not think it is in the best interest of the county, then he thinks that the offer can be rejected.
He said he does not think there is any way there can be dialogue started between the county and the Magi Foundation to preserve the bridge as a trail. “There is no support here for that bridge to remain,” Griesheimer said. Property owners near the bridge don’t want the bridge, and the county does not want to “saddle” the sheriff’s office with the responsibility of patrolling the bridge, Griesheimer added.
Moreover, keeping the old bridge presents other liability concerns for the county, Griesheimer said. If the city of Pacific wanted to take the bridge, the county would be glad to turn it over if the city annexed all the way to the bridge so the county would not have to provide the law enforcement, Griesheimer said. If someone wants to dismantle the bridge and move it, the county would consider that, he said. Steve Myers with the Magi Foundation could not be reached for comment Friday morning. The Section 106 process will include the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation being invited by the Federal Highways Administration to take part in the consultation. “It’s just part of the federal highway procedures that need to be done in order to follow through with whatever is going to be done with that bridge,” said county Highway Administrator Ron Williams. Williams added that the county would like to get the process started soon, adding that the county wants to bid out the new bridge project later this year. It could take three to four months to get the Section 106 process done, he said, adding that the county is at the mercy of the federal agency. “It’s a process, but it’s going to have to be followed,” Williams said.
Work to Begin Soon on Congress Street
By Pauline Masson, Pacific Editor | Posted: Thursday, February 26, 2015, 5:30 pm
Work will begin next month to rebuild a 12¬block stretch of Highway N (Congress Street) as part of a three¬phase project to improve the street from Fourth Street to the city limits. The $942,027 project, stretching from Fourth Street to Hawthorne Subdivision, will take six months to complete. N.B. West, St. Louis is the contractor.
Cochran Engineering designed the project. East¬West Gateway Council of Governments (EWGW) approved the federal funds in the February 2013 funding round. Improvements will include asphalt road resurfacing, concrete sidewalks, concrete curb, new concrete approaches to residences, pavement striping and traffic control. Some lane closures will be allowed for portions of the work, however, the contractor will be required to maintain two¬lane, two¬way traffic and provide portable traffic signals to control traffic flow. The city engineer will receive paving schedule plans and approve the work prior to commencement and will be notified ahead of time when the single lane traffic plan goes into effect.
Although this is the second Highway N improvement project, the work is designated Phase Three. “The Highway N phases were conceptualized in numeric order,” said Dan Rahn, city engineer. “However, due to the availability of funding and shifting schedules, they are being constructed out of order.” Phase 1, which included new sidewalks, curbs, and storm sewer improvements from Hawthorne Subdivision to Indian Hills Subdivision, was conceptualized first and completed in late 2012. Phase 2 was to continue sidewalks and improvements from Riverbend School (Indian Trail) out to the city limits (Myers Farm Lane).
This phase, which would extend the improvements as far as they could go inside the city limits, originally was to be designed and constructed without federal funds and be paid for solely by the city. After the Congress Street phase was applied for, the sidewalk extension project was deemed too expensive to be funded solely by the city and was abandoned for a later date. Officials should know by April of this year if the funding will be granted.
In February 2014 the city applied for funds for a fourth phase, which would have included the Riverbend School to Myers Farm Lane sidewalks along with an asphalt overlay for the remaining unimproved portion of Highway N, which would have cost over $1 million. When EWGW denied that grant and advised the city that due to diminishing federal funds that projects over $300,000 to $400,000 would not be approved, the city went back to the Phase 2 sidewalk project. The city has since applied for federal funds for the sidewalk project or Phase Two, which will hopefully be funded in the FY 2016¬19 round of grants.
“The good news is that all of these roads continue to be eligible for federal funding,” Rahn said. “But due to the decrease in funding, we will have to take smaller bites as we progress with road improvements. “All in all I think the city has done a great job of utilizing federal funds for the last several years,” he said. “Consider this, since 2011, we have secured federal funding for $9.6 million worth of improvements at a total cost to the city of $2.1 million, including the three projects that are awaiting construction. That’s a cost of 22 cents on the dollar and a total of about $526,000 per fiscal year (2011¬15).”
Board OKs Services Pact on Energy Loan
By Keith E. Domke St. Clair Missourian Editor | Posted: Saturday, February 28, 2015, 10:00 am
St. Clair’s aldermen approved a professional services contract last week between the city and Cochran Engineering regarding energy loan improvements at three locations. The board unanimously approved the ordinance centering on the agreement with Cochran Engineering for $24,350. “This was part of the energy loan discussions we’ve had,” Assistant City Administrator Travis Dierker told the aldermen.
The amount of the contract came in under the budgeted amount of $28,000, Dierker said. Under terms of the deal, Cochran will provide mechanical, electrical and plumbing design services for heating, air conditioning and lighting upgrades at city hall and improved lighting at the senior center and wastewater treatment plant. Last month, the city found out it had been approved for an energy loan through the Missouri Department of Economic Development to make the improvements.
The loan totals $259,180. A resolution passed by the board last month authorized the city’s participation in the energy loan program. Payments will be made through the energy savings the city will receive through the upgrades. The energy loan program is separate from the solar project the city is working on through SunVest Solar. According to information presented, capital expenditures on top of the loan are $122,166.29, according to Cochran documentation. Estimates were that through the loan and energy program, the city will be getting the upgrades for about 20 cents on the dollar.
Progressive Grocer 2014 Best New Store Design Award
Cochran wins Progressive Grocer Magazine 2014 Best Store Design under 50,000 square feet –
Progressive Grocer Presents 2014 Store Design Contest Winners (see below link to article) –
Supermarket industry trade publication salutes 14 innovative design concepts
From Washington, D.C., to St. George, Utah, 14 exceptional food stores that have cut their ceremonial ribbons during the past year have been chosen as the winners of Progressive Grocer’s fifth annual Store Design Contest.
Pouring through an impressive array of entries to arrive at a show-stopping collection of extraordinary supermarket design concepts, PG chose its Store Design Contest winners from five budget categories – two for new ground-up construction, and three for remodeling projects ranging from subtle to substantial – providing store design teams an opportunity to be honored for outstanding achievements in innovation, functionality, ingenuity, inventiveness and overall supervision.
“With enhanced in-store experiences and accelerated customer conveniences underlining the short list of must-have attributes of this year’s award-winning concept designs, our inspiring slate of 2014 Store Design winners – eight of which are new construction and the remainder consisting of major remodels – are most definitely heeding the call and moving the differentiation needle forward in directions never before seen in previous years’ showdowns,” noted Meg Major, PG’s chief content editor.
“Fitting with PG’s signature Store of the Month series, we take great pleasure in showcasing the most innovative store design concepts from around the country that collectively enhance the industry’s image and improve the shopper experience,” added Major. “At the same time, we’re also pleased to have a chance to spotlight the industry’s talented design teams, whose savvy, skills and keen eyes for detail produce measurable improvements with traffic flow, higher store sales, and more loyal, satisfied grocery shoppers.”
The complete list of PG’s 2014 Store Design Contest winners, all of which can be found in the publication’s August print and digital issues
Please follow the below link to view the award –