Kokosing invests in Ohio State to develop construction workforce from classroom to jobsite

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Kokosing invests in Ohio State to develop construction workforce from classroom to jobsite

Gift expands support for students and faculty, funds lab and classroom enhancements

Kokosing, Inc., one of the largest family-owned construction companies in the Midwest and mid-Atlantic states, has made a transformative, philanthropic commitment to The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) to strengthen Ohio's construction management talent pipeline from the classroom to the jobsite.

The gift names the Kokosing Construction Management Program in CFAES - which is offered in partnership with the College of Engineering on both the Columbus campus and Ohio State ATI on the CFAES Wooster campus - and expands support for students, faculty and learning spaces focused on construction management.

"With vision and leadership, Kokosing is making a tremendous investment in our people - our faculty, students and future alumni - that will shape our opportunity to develop the workforce of tomorrow here in Ohio for generations to come," said Ohio State President Walter "Ted" Carter Jr. "Together, we will create a hub where academic excellence meets industry relevance, forging a collaboration that could set a new national standard."

"It is an honor and privilege to support The Ohio State University and its students through the naming of the Kokosing Construction Management Program," said Brett Burgett, Kokosing's president and co-CEO. "We want to be a leader in building the workforce of tomorrow with a goal of inspiring current and future Buckeyes to solve construction's toughest challenges and improve the quality of life in our communities."

Approved by the university's Board of Trustees on March 5, the Kokosing Construction Management Program prepares students for careers in commercial, heavy and residential construction. The gift advances several priorities: establishing an endowed chair to recruit a nationally recognized faculty leader; expanding student support through scholarships, internships and applied learning; and enhancing labs and classrooms with modern tools, technology and industry-standard software.

"While updating classrooms with new tools and technology is critical, our mission is to also provide real-world, hands-on experiences that prepare students to become the next generation of industry leaders," said Brian Burgett, Kokosing's chairman emeritus. "I am pleased to pay forward to my alma mater and create a pipeline of workers that keeps Ohio at the forefront of the construction industry."

The partnership builds on Kokosing's longstanding relationship with Ohio State. Over the past several decades, the company has served as the construction partner on projects including the Ohio Stadium expansion from 1999-2001; the cast-in-place concrete for the Recreation and Physical Activity Center (RPAC); the installation of a new condensate return and water treatment systems at McCracken Power Plant; the Controlled Environment Agriculture Research Complex (CEARC) that opened in 2022; and CFAES' new Multispecies Animal Learning Complex (MALC) and dairy facilities, which hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony in January.

"Kokosing's investment directly advances our land-grant mission and our purpose of 'We sustain life,'" said Cathann A. Kress, Ohio State vice president for agricultural administration and CFAES dean. "By connecting students to hands-on learning, real projects and industry mentors, we are preparing graduates who can design, build and manage the infrastructure that supports Ohio's food system, environment and economy."

The program offers two academic pathways. Students can begin in the two-year program at Ohio State ATI and transition seamlessly into the Columbus four-year program. Alternatively, they can enroll directly in the program through the Department of Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering on the Columbus campus to earn their bachelor's degree.

In addition to classroom and software upgrades, the gift enables new and modernized coursework in areas such as soil mechanics, structures, heavy construction, risk management, and advanced scheduling and estimating. Along the way, Kokosing's support will expand to include internships, co-ops and field-based coursework aligned with Ohio's infrastructure needs, from transportation and utilities to manufacturing, as well as agricultural and environmental treatment facilities.

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