January 22, 2025

Cochran celebrates 70 years of shaping Seattle

Photo via Columbia Center [enlarge]

In the 1980s, Cochran provided comprehensive electrical services for the Columbia Center tower in downtown Seattle.

Seattle-based electrical and technology contractor Cochran celebrated its 70th anniversary in December.

The firm debuted in 1954 as a small electrical contracting storefront just east of the University District. Since then, Cochran has grown in both size and stature to have a tangible impact on the city and has worked on a plethora of iconic properties.

If you can name the building, Cochran was probably involved.

In 1962, the company put a 40-foot-tall, gas-powered torch on top of the Space Needle for the World's Fair (the torch was removed after the festivities).

The firm has also worked on Columbia Center, Lumen Field, Seattle Central Library, Amazon Spheres, Climate Pledge Arena, Gates Foundation, Seattle's cruise terminals, Boeing and Microsoft facilities, and T-Mobile Park.

Services offered today include electrical, data and telecommunications, audiovisual (AV), security solutions and building control, from offices in Seattle (on Aurora Avenue North.), Wenatchee, Tri-Cities and Spokane. Cochran also has offices in Oregon and Idaho.

Cochran

The company has been owned and operated by the same family since its founding. Below, current CEO LeeAnn Cochran, who is the granddaughter of founder Walter Cochran, reflects on the anniversary and looks ahead to more years shaping Seattle.

Q: How is Cochran celebrating turning 70?

A: We kicked off our anniversary celebrations last month at our annual holiday party at T-Mobile Park. Hundreds of Cochran employees and their family members explored Enchant Christmas before gathering for the unveiling of a new short film about our firm's history and role in building Seattle into what it is today. We'll continue to find fun and creative ways to celebrate our anniversary in 2025.

Q: How does it feel to be celebrating 70 years of your family's business? How do you think your grandfather would be feeling on this occasion?

A: It's exhilarating and a bit surreal. Seven decades is a long time for any business. Countless firms have risen, fallen, and disappeared since 1954. I think my grandfather Walter would welcome the occasion in stride, proud of what's been accomplished but looking ahead to what comes next. That's the spirit that has sustained Cochran over all these years.

Photo by Jordan Stead/Amazon [enlarge]

More recent projects include the Amazon Spheres, which opened in 2018.

Q: When did you start working at Cochran and why did you want to join? How has your role evolved over time?

A: I came of age at a time when attitudes about women and work were rapidly changing. Until relatively recently, it was rare to find women on a construction site. But when I was growing up, I was fortunate to be able to tag along with my father and other family members at worksites. I saw firsthand the impact of their work and the pride they took in delivering for clients. That's why I decided to join the family business in 1987. In the years that followed, I served in a range of roles including accounts receivable clerk, project assistant, project engineer, contract administrator, and accounting manager, just to name a few, before becoming CEO in 2006. My top priority is carrying the Cochran legacy forward.

Q: How have you seen the firm evolve over time?

A: Cochran has grown along with the Puget Sound region. The projects that we work on have gotten larger and more complex, with technology being the driving force. In the late 1980s, we undertook our first major expansion of services when we moved into telecommunications. In the early 1990s, we expanded again by offering a broad suite of security services. And in the 2000s, we began offering AV services to better meet our customers' needs. The tech sector has transformed Seattle, and we have constantly evolved and adapted to meet its needs. In the process, we have become just as much a provider of technology services as electrical services.

Q: How has the firm's mission and culture evolved?

A: Our mission has always been to deliver consistently for our clients on demanding and complex projects. The scope of our work has expanded greatly, with high-profile and innovative projects across the Pacific Northwest and beyond, but that mission remains our North Star. At heart, we're a family business, and our employees are part of what is now a very large family. This is central to our company culture, and we work hard to maintain it as we expand into new sectors and geographies.

Q: What are some projects/moments that you are most proud of/most stand out?

A: We've had the honor at Cochran of helping build many of the iconic landmarks that define our region. In 1962, we put the torch on top of the Space Needle for the World's Fair. We staffed up significantly in the 1980s to take on the Columbia Center project, delivering ahead of schedule on what was then the tallest building west of the Mississippi. In the years since, we've played a role in building Lumen Field, Seattle Central Library, Amazon Spheres, Gates Foundation, T-Mobile Park, and much more. One of our most challenging projects that was recently finished is Climate Pledge Arena. I am very proud of my team for completing this complex, time-critical, and difficult project on time and on budget.

Q: What do you think are the key things that have led to Cochran's success and 70 years in business?

A: As a privately owned family business, we have had the ability to play the long game. We are rooted in our communities, value our employees and partners, and take pride in delivering for our clients. Many companies are tempted to expand too quickly and offer services outside their true area of expertise. At Cochran, we have been very intentional about expanding our service offerings. We only do so when we're confident that there's a real need to be met, and that we can deliver with excellence. This approach has provided stability and focus through the years.

Photo from Seattle Municipal Archives [enlarge]

For the 1962 World’s Fair, Cochran put a gas-powered torch on top of the Space Needle.

Q: How would you describe the company's impact in Seattle?

A: Over the past 70 years, Cochran has impacted our region in ways big and small. Some are highly visible, including stadiums and prominent landmarks, but most are not. The infrastructure we build goes behind walls and under floors, but it powers the leading firms and institutions in our region. Beyond that, we have empowered a community of thousands of individuals who have worked on our projects and made everything we do possible. I'm incredibly proud of this extended Cochran family.

Q: How have you seen Seattle, particularly the built environment, evolve during your time at Cochran?

A: My 18 years as CEO of Cochran have coincided with explosive growth in our region. Over 600,000 more people live in the area than when I started in the role. Entire neighborhoods in Seattle have been transformed from warehouses and parking lots to high rises, research labs, and tech offices. The changes on the Eastside have been no less dramatic. On the whole, I've really enjoyed watching our region come into its own and get the recognition it deserves nationally, and even globally.

Q: What are some current/future projects that you are excited about?

A: We are very busy these days with data center work to help meet the needs of the AI industry. We are also excited about opportunities to work with the semiconductor industry. There are many potential projects on the horizon that are complex, time-constricted and large-scale, which we are focusing on. Some are in our region and others are spread across the Pacific Northwest. We are prepared and excited to provide these projects with the excellent customer service that our customers have grown to expect.

Q: What do you hope for the future of the firm?

A: With our anniversary top of mind, I'm mindful of the next 70 years in the Cochran story. I am hopeful that the company will remain rooted in community and maintain its sense of being one big family. The mission and culture established by my grandfather have carried us through seven decades, and I believe they will continue to carry the company well into the future.