The Sherwin-Williams Company has held a virtual celebration to mark the official start of construction for its new global headquarters.
The one million square-foot (92,900 square-metre) facility will be located in the US city of Cleveland, Ohio, and will include a two-storey pavilion serving as the front porch to a public square, a 36-floor office tower, and an attached multi-level car park.
John Morikis, Sherwin-Williams Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, said the event represented a significant milestone for the project.
“As construction workers, equipment and materials have been arriving at our building site in the heart of the city, we could not be more excited about the investment we are making in the future of our company and the future of Cleveland. We are creating a next-generation workplace to serve our customers, retain and attract employees, as well as offer opportunities to celebrate the Sherwin-Williams brand and act as a catalyst for future development in and around our new campus,” Morikis said.
Sherwin-Williams said the new headquarters is part of the company’s Building Our Future project, which includes construction of a 600,000 square foot (55,700 square-metre) research and development centre in Brecksville, Ohio, which began construction in October 2021.
Local dignitaries praised Sherwin-Williams for its commitment to the area. Justin Bibb, Mayor of the City of Cleveland, said attracting and retaining organisations like Sherwin-Williams is critical to the short- and long-term success of the city, region and surrounding communities.
“We applaud the decision Sherwin-Williams made to further invest in Cleveland and in North-East Ohio by building world class facilities for the workforce of the future. Their steadfast commitment to the area is an example of how the City of Cleveland will further establish itself as a destination for investment, job creation and top talent recruitment,” Bibb said.
Blaine Griffin, President of Cleveland Council, said the positive economic impact generated from Sherwin-Williams over the past decades is unprecedented. “Sherwin-Williams continues to be an important part of Cleveland and North-East Ohio through their ability to provide good jobs, strong community support and robust economic activity for years to come,” Griffin said.
Ohio State Senator Sandra Williams said the state is “incredibly fortunate” to have Sherwin-Williams as part of the community for more than 155 years.
“Together, the new headquarters and R&D centre will have a significant and long-lasting impact on our region. This project represents a successful public-private partnership whereby the State of Ohio, JobsOhio, Cuyahoga County, the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority, the City of Cleveland, and the City of Brecksville all worked together with Sherwin-Williams to provide support in the way of economic development packages which, in part, reflect the retention and addition of a significant number of jobs,” Williams said.
Sherwin-Williams said the global headquarters is expected to open by the end of 2024 and is forecast to generate 4000 construction jobs.