- Construction is on track to transition to new facilities at the end of 2024
- Contracts totaling $122 million have been awarded to diverse businesses to date
- Deliberate process has resulted in 57 diverse firms being added to project to date
- Innovative Construction Accelerator Program (CAP) launched with Urban League to drive growth and success of local minority-owned construction companies
CLEVELAND, October 10, 2022 – Today, the Sherwin-Williams Company (NYSE: SHW) provided a progress report on its Building Our Future project, including construction status of its new global headquarters and its new research and development (R&D) center and the positive impact the project is having on the local community. Both topics were part of a joint presentation by Sherwin-Williams and the Urban League of Greater Cleveland who hosted the program at their offices.
“Driven by our need to serve our customers at the highest level and retain and attract top talent, Sherwin-Williams is making tremendous progress in constructing our next generation workplaces that will further ignite creativity, collaboration and innovation,” said John G. Morikis, Sherwin-Williams Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “Not only is Sherwin-Williams building buildings, we’re building our community, which includes our collaboration with the Urban League that supports underrepresented and underserved communities in Cleveland and surrounding areas through economic inclusion, education and the Building Our Future project.”
Project Progress Update
The Building Our Future project is a significant investment and driver of economic development in the region. When complete, the global headquarters will be approximately 1,000,000 square feet and consist of a 36-story tower, a two-story pavilion acting as the front porch to Public Square and a parking garage. The R&D center will be a 600,000-square-foot state-of-the-art innovation and development hub for future products and services. Construction remains on track for the Company to transition to the new facilities at the end of 2024.
Following the groundbreaking events less than one year ago, both sites came to life as excavation work began and foundations were put in place. At the Cleveland headquarters site, the construction team installed critical skyscraper foundation components. A total of 28 building anchors were drilled deep into the earth, some reaching 300 feet below ground level. In late July, the tower crane was installed. And in August, the tower concrete foundation slab was poured. In a single day, more than 150 truckloads delivered 1500 yards of concrete which equates to approximately 5 miles of a typical 5-foot-wide sidewalk. Most recently, the construction teams have been preparing the pavilion and garage sections for foundation work.
Similar activities have been happening at the Brecksville research and development site but spread over multiple, low-rise buildings. In the spring of this year, the construction crew prepared for the center's lab wing foundations and are adding the steel structure which will provide important support for the buildings. In total, the labs will contain approximately 875 tons of steel, equivalent to the weight of close to 125 elephants.
Work at both sites is being done on underground utilities and plumbing, and crew sizes are growing to support the multiple scopes of work progressing through the fall. The project team continues to engage all parts of the workforce pipeline to reach crew ratios that keep the project on track for all workforce goals. Safety of the workforce in all aspects of the project remains a top priority.
Community Impact Update
Since the beginning of the project, Sherwin-Williams has worked collaboratively with state and local political, community and religious leaders to ensure that Building Our Future helps uplift Cleveland and Northeast Ohio by creating economic opportunity. The Company remains steadfast in this commitment, including meeting and striving to exceed the robust supplier inclusion and diversity requirements asked of us in our economic development packages.
“As a city, the more Cleveland invests in the growth of local businesses, the stronger we become,” stated Cleveland Mayor Justin M. Bibb. “My administration is committed to creating inclusive opportunity for all and attracting additional investment. I would like to thank Sherwin-Williams for their commitment to our community.”
With more than 3,500 Northeast Ohio employees, Sherwin-Williams is one of the region’s top employers and drivers of economic activity. This project will have a profound economic impact throughout the region driven by jobs, payroll, tax revenue, the growth of businesses supplying goods and services to support the project, and the recirculation of wages.
Sherwin-Williams has long supported the communities in which it operates while demonstrating the Company’s commitment to inclusion, diversity and equity. This commitment has been extended to the Building Our Future project, including joining with the Urban League in launching its unique Construction Accelerator Program (CAP).
“There are three criteria that we consider when engaging in public-private partnerships,” commented Marsha A. Mockabee, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Urban League of Greater Cleveland. “There must be an authentic commitment to diversity and inclusion, a demonstrated accountability to achieving the metrics, and the willingness to develop long-term strategies that empower communities and change lives. The Urban League is pleased to partner with Sherwin-Williams to bring its community impact commitment to fruition.”
Additional positive community impacts demonstrate the growing momentum of Sherwin-Williams approach to creating opportunity for many, including:
- Sherwin-Williams has awarded Building Our Future contracts totaling $122 million to date against a total commitment of $180 million to minority-owned, female-owned and small businesses. The Company expects the final total to be well above $180 million.
- The Company’s intentional process has resulted in 57 diverse firms to date being added to the project. This list is expected to grow as the procurement process is ongoing.
- Five of these firms serve in the critical minority construction management role for the project. These firms are setting direction, overseeing operations, augmenting staff and making decisions that significantly impact the project's budget, schedule and quality.
- The Company is working with members of Cleveland’s clergy in offering the Sherwin-Williams HomeWork painter training program throughout the area. The HomeWork Program trains individuals with no previous experience to begin careers as professional painters. Nearly 70% of HomeWork graduates secure employment as professional painters.
“I have confidence Sherwin-Williams will live up to their goals of diversity, equity and inclusion outlined in their Building Our Future project, and I am pleased by the progress that has been publicly reported to date,” said Cleveland City Council President Blaine A. Griffin. “I am regularly communicating with the growing group of diverse local firms and Sherwin-Williams to ensure continuation of inclusivity, opportunities and continuous growth for minority-owned, female-owned and small businesses.”
To learn more about Building Our Future, the Company’s community impact commitment and the Urban League of Greater Cleveland, see the additional resources listed below.
Additional Information:
Program Agenda/Speakers
- Welcome: Michael Obi, Urban League EVP, Economic Development and President, UBIZ Venture Capital
- Invocation: Steve Rowan, Pastor of Bethany Baptist Church
- Emcee Introduction: Yentil Rawlinson, Vice President, ID&E at The Sherwin-Williams Company
- John G. Morikis, CEO at The Sherwin-Williams Company
- Marsha A. Mockabee, President & CEO at Urban League of Greater Cleveland
- Cleveland Mayor Justin M. Bibb
List of diverse firms on the project
Our Community firm profile series
- Commitment Overview
- Supporting Underrepresented Communities in Cleveland
- Building Our Future Project
- Project Benefits
- Project Objectives
- Project Goals
- Project Commitments
For more information about the Urban League of Greater Cleveland, visit ulcleveland.org.
From left to right:
Steve Rowan, Pastor of Bethany Baptist Church
John G. Morikis, Sherwin-Williams Chairman and CEO
Marsha A. Mockabee, President and CEO, Urban League of Greater Cleveland
Yentil Rawlinson, Sherwin-Williams Vice President of Inclusion, Diversity & Equity
Justin M. Bibb, Mayor of Cleveland
Michael Obi, Urban League EVP, Economic Development and President, UBIZ Venture Capital
ABOUT THE SHERWIN-WILLIAMS COMPANY
Founded in 1866, The Sherwin-Williams Company is a global leader in the manufacture, development, distribution, and sale of paint, coatings and related products to professional, industrial, commercial, and retail customers. The Company manufactures products under well-known brands such as Sherwin-Williams®, Valspar®, HGTV HOME® by Sherwin-Williams, Dutch Boy®, Krylon®, Minwax®, Thompson's® WaterSeal®, Cabot® and many more. With global headquarters in Cleveland, Ohio, Sherwin-Williams® branded products are sold exclusively through a chain of more than 5,000 Company-operated stores and facilities, while the Company's other brands are sold through leading mass merchandisers, home centers, independent paint dealers, hardware stores, automotive retailers, and industrial distributors. The Sherwin-Williams Performance Coatings Group supplies a broad range of highly-engineered solutions for the construction, industrial, packaging and transportation markets in more than 120 countries around the world. Sherwin-Williams shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol: SHW). For more information, visit www.sherwin.com.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Julie Young
Vice President, Global Corporate Communications
Direct: 216.515.8849
corporatemedia@sherwin.com
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