The fourth floor of Cockins Hall bears only modest resemblance to the space that most alumni may remember. The offices have been refinished and reconfigured, and we have created several new common areas. Most of the construction work was completed near the end of 2019, but with other concerns (chiefly a global pandemic) some of the finishing had been delayed.
In 2024, Cockins Hall saw many improvements with conference space on the fourth floor.
Rooms 428A and 432 were outfitted with powered conference tables, presentation monitors and sound-dampening paneling. Most notably, the department now offers the Koch Conference Room for faculty and committee use. This room features state-of-the-art technology for virtual conferences and presentations as well as a stylish and professional design including a custom credenza for neat technology storage. These projects have already contributed much to the goal of providing the department with more effective space for collaboration and discussion.
The building is currently in the midst of many exciting improvements, including upgrades to bathrooms, carpet, lighting, and storage.
Looking into the future, the lower floors of Cockins Hall have been identified for “Near-term Renovation” as part of the university’s Framework 3.0 master plan for the Columbus campus. In the meantime, we look forward to completing renovation projects in 2025, which include new furniture in the reception areas and break room on the fourth floor and upgraded projection equipment in our recitation spaces!
Much of the renovation work in Cockins Hall has been made possible by a generous gift from Gary and Carolyn Koch.