Laborer Dies on Parking Garage Jobsite at Sherwin-Williams Cleveland HQ | Columbus Ohio Dump Trucks

 A 48-year-old construction laborer was killed July 11 when a forklift fell on him at a parking garage under construction at the new global headquarters of paint and coatings manufacturer Sherwin-Williams in Cleveland. The city Fire Dept. responded to the incident shortly after midnight and found Joe Cunningham, 48, a member of Laborers' union Local 310, trapped under the forklift and dead at the scene. He suffered a severe head trauma, said Lt. Mike Norman, a department spokesperson.

The five-level parking garage is one element in Sherwin-Williams' $860-million "Build Our Future" project, which includes a 36-story office tower in the city, as well as a 500,000-sq-ft research and development center on a 119-acre site in nearby Brecksville, Ohio. 

Project contractor, the Welty|Gilbane joint venture, issued a statement saying “our thoughts and condolences are with the family and co-workers.” 

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating the incident. 

“We share our deepest sympathies with the family, loved ones and co-workers," Sherwin-Williams said in s statement related to Cunningham's death. "Safety remains our highest priority, and we are supporting a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding this incident.” 

Sherwin-Williams said Cunningham was working for a site services trade contractor and referred further questions to the joint venture of Welty|Gilbane, comprised of Welty Building Co. and Gilbane Building Co., which was named project construction manager in 2020.

In 2021, Sherwin-Williams was criticized by dump trucks columbus oh community activists for a lack of diversity on the project. As of 2025, it says it has exceeded supplier requirements of 15% for minority business enterprises, resulting in $82 million in contracts to date; and has exceeded a 7% commitment for women business enterprises, with $78 million in contracts issued to date. The owner also has surpassed an 8% requirement for Cleveland small businesses, providing $56 million in contracts, for a total minimum spend of $216 million.

The headquarters project has experienced other setbacks, including having to reapply fire protectant that had not been adequately applied to the building’s structural steel. As a result, a grand opening scheduled for March was pushed back to October.

Based on the latest construction information, Julia Young, vice president of global corporate communications for Sherwin-Williams, says a multi-phase move-in process for employees is expected to begin at the headquarters in the fourth quarter and will continue into 2026.

In a Facebook post, Local 310 posted a statement on Cunningham's death. “There are no words strong enough for a loss like this,” the union said. “Joe was a dedicated laborer ... and [part] of the backbone of this project—and of the working class that builds this city from the ground up.” 

Annemarie Mannion is editor of ENR Midwest, which covers 11 states. She joined ENR in 2022 and reports from Chicago.