East Central College

For decades, Cochran has been a trusted engineering partner to East Central College, supporting the institution’s growth through infrastructure improvements that enhance the campus experience for students, faculty, staff, and visitors. Located just minutes from the College’s Union campus, Cochran brings unmatched local knowledge and a long-standing commitment to the success of one of the region’s premier educational institutions.

Our multidisciplinary team has provided a full range of professional services across numerous campus projects, including civil engineering, utility infrastructure, stormwater management, water and sanitary sewer design, transportation improvements, surveying, geotechnical engineering, environmental services, grant assistance, construction materials testing, inspection, and construction administration.

Beyond our professional partnership, Cochran shares a strong connection with East Central College as a neighboring organization and employer of numerous ECC graduates.

Cochran has had the opportunity to serve the College on the following projects:

Pedestrian Bridge Bridge Replacement – Cochran performed the surveying, engineering design and construction inspection for this new 180 feet long, 3-span, cast-in-place concrete pedestrian bridge, which features a curved canopy to protect students and faculty from the elements as they walk between the Donald Shook Student Center and Buescher Hall. The bridge replaced an existing deficient structure that had to be demolished. The project, which included bridge demolition, rock excavation, bridge construction, structural steel canopy construction, lighting and site restoration, was completed in Summer 2023.

Business and Industrial Learning Facility – Located adjacent to the main ECC campus in Union, this 21,000 square foot facility was originally designed by Cochran for a private owner as an event center in 2010 and purchased for repurposing by ECC in 2016.   This project involves a full facility assessment of the building and property prior to the purchase of the building.  Upon purchase, the project involved the reconfiguring of the space as a learning center for HVAC, welding, industrial engineering, and precision machining labs with an addition of 4,000 to the building.  The project was assisted with funding through the acquisition of an EDA grant of 1.2M.  Cochran provided architectural, civil, MEP, structural, environmental and survey services.

Administration Building Renovation/Buescher Hall – Design of site improvements for the Buescher Hall Renovations in collaboration with ECC and the Lawrence Group Team. The improvements include renovation and expansion of the front and rear of the building, sidewalk and patio renovations, and a design and construction of a new potable water main and fire protection extension to Highway 50, new roadways, 75 space parking lot addition, a stormwater detention system including a water feature system and construction administration.

Nursing, Health, and Science Building – Cochran performed construction materials and inspection testing on the new Nursing, Health, and Science Building. The scope of work included compaction testing during general grading, high plastic clay observation and removal recommendation, rock excavation observations, foundation excavation observations, reinforcing steel observations, structural steel observations, masonry observations and testing, backfill compaction testing and observation, fresh concrete testing, asphalt compaction testing, vapor emission, and concrete moisture tests.

College Drive Extension to Audrey Lane – Cochran provided full design services for the Audrey Lane road improvements from College Drive to Audrey Lane. The scope included 2,400 lf of new roadway, associated grading, curb, gutter, and storm sewer. Cochran provided civil design, survey, construction testing/inspection, and construction administration services.

Training Center Greenhouse – Located behind the main ECC campus Training Center in Union, this 500-square-foot greenhouse was designed with heating and control, irrigation, exhausts and shading structure to assist in controlling of the environment. East Central College Culinary Arts Program received a $70,000 grant from the USDA Rural Development Program for the greenhouse. “This greenhouse will strengthen the Culinary Arts curriculum,” said Program Director Mike Palazzola. “Students will learn more about sustainability and farm-to-table competencies. The program will be more comprehensive and desirable to potential students and the area workforce.” East Central College also hopes to use the greenhouse to help educate area high school students as well as create community education class opportunities.