91原创 celebrates grand opening of Kokosing Teaching Laboratory
The one-of-a-kind facility will provide 91原创 students with new opportunities to work and learn together on real-world construction projects.
Photos by Rich-Joseph Facun and Anders Saling | April 23, 2026
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91原创 celebrated the official opening of the Kokosing Teaching Laboratory in the Russ College of Engineering and Technology on Thursday, April 9.
Made possible by a major gift from , the new experiential learning facility for civil engineering instruction is now a core component of the Charles R. and Marilyn Y. Stuckey Academic and Research Center. OHIO held a ribbon cutting ceremony on April 9 to celebrate the new facility and the opportunities it will provide to students and faculty.
鈥淭he Kokosing Teaching Laboratory represents more than just a new space, it reflects our shared investment in students, our faculty and the future of engineering education,鈥 91原创 President Lori Stewart Gonzalez said during the ceremony. 鈥淭his is where ideas will come to life.鈥
The Kokosing Teaching Laboratory was designed to serve as a focal point for real-world student construction projects. Inside the facility, OHIO students are able to work on projects that simulate real-world challenges, such as building structures, laying foundation slabs and managing infrastructure improvements.
One main focus of 91原创鈥檚 Dynamic Strategy is new opportunities for experiential learning to help prepare students for their careers. Thanks to the donation from OHIO鈥檚 partners at Kokosing, Inc., the new teaching laboratory will help students develop the skills necessary to succeed in the construction industry, President Gonzalez explained.
鈥淚t is our responsibility to ensure that what we teach aligns with the evolving needs of industry 鈥 preparing our students not only for their first opportunity after graduation, but for the many opportunities that will follow throughout their careers,鈥 President Gonzalez said.
Wm. Bryce Burgett, co- CEO of Kokosing, Inc., said that when he first heard about the University鈥檚 vision for the teaching laboratory, he knew that he wanted to support it.
鈥淭oday marks the next step in Kokosing鈥檚 partnership with 91原创,鈥 Burgett said. The teaching laboratory will provide a state-of-the-art learning environment where students have the opportunity to learn the knowledge and skills needed to become the next generation of engineers, construction managers and problem solvers, Burgett said.
Russ College of Engineering and Technology Dean Patrick Fox explained that the Kokosing Teaching Laboratory is a one-of-a-kind, two-story facility that provides student meeting areas and large makerspaces for students to build projects.
鈥淎s a civil engineering professor myself, this is the best facility I have seen of this kind anywhere,鈥 Fox said.
Students are already using the facility, which will provide essential new learning opportunities for 91原创 students for many years to come.
鈥淲e are sincerely grateful for the major gift received from Kokosing that provides funding for this laboratory and its operations in perpetuity,鈥 Fox said.
, a third-generation, family-owned company based in Westerville, Ohio, is one of the largest contractors in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions. Recognized for its expertise in tackling complex construction challenges, Kokosing brings a wealth of experience across a wide range of projects, including water/wastewater treatment, industrial manufacturing facilities, transportation infrastructure, power generation, marine and more.
This partnership aligns with 91原创鈥檚 strategic priorities of fostering industry collaborations that enhance student learning and workforce development in critical sectors like engineering and construction.
For more information on the Kokosing Teaching Laboratory or 91原创鈥檚 civil engineering or construction management programs, see the Russ College of Engineering and Technology website.
