Sherwin-Williams’ Global Headquarters: Lightweight Concrete for a Landmark Project
Key Insights:
Quick Facts:
- Name: Sherwin-Williams Global Headquarters
- Location: Cleveland, Ohio
- Customer: Cuyahoga Concrete (Ready-mix partner)
- Client: Sherwin-Williams
- Size: 1-million-square-foot facility, 36-floor office tower
Challenge: Reduce construction costs while maintaining structural integrity for a large-scale office tower.
How Arcosa Helped
- Our Solution: Arcosa provided structural lightweight aggregate for the office tower’s concrete floors, significantly reducing dead load and construction costs.
- Why Lightweight Works: The use of expanded shale aggregate reduced the overall weight of the structure, minimizing the need for additional supporting steel and foundation materials.
Final Results
- Lightweight aggregate allowed for cost-efficient construction of the high-rise office tower.
Key Quote
“Our lightweight aggregate has significantly reduced the weight of the building’s floors, keeping construction costs down.” – Jeff Hochendoner, Arcosa Sales Representative
Context:
- Considerations: Lightweight concrete offers advantages such as thermal efficiency, reduced micro-cracking, and improved fire ratings.
- Lesson to Learn: Leveraging lightweight aggregate for high-rise structures can lead to significant cost savings and design flexibility.
Explore Further
Learn more about Arcosa Lightweight Aggregates and their applications in large-scale construction.
Sherwin-Williams’ Global Headquarters: Lightweight Concrete for a Landmark Project
Sherwin-Williams is constructing its new global headquarters in Cleveland, Ohio, a development that will feature a two-story pavilion, a 36-floor office tower, and a multi-level parking garage. The project, which will redefine the Cleveland skyline, benefits from the use of Arcosa Lightweight aggregate in the structural lightweight concrete floors of the office tower.
“Our lightweight aggregate, manufactured at our Brooks, Kentucky facility, has significantly reduced the building’s floor weight, lowering construction costs,” said Arcosa Sales Representative Jeff Hochendoner.
The expanded shale aggregate was shipped by rail from Kentucky to Arcosa’s Cleveland, OH terminal. Longtime ready-mix partner, Cuyahoga Concrete, a division of the Osborne Company, handled the transportation of the lightweight aggregate to their plant for wetting and stockpiling.
The aggregate was pre-wet and batched at Cuyahoga’s plant near the Cuyahoga River. After delivery to the job site, the lightweight concrete undergoes quality testing and is pumped by Hydracrete Pumping Company, which sends it up multiple stories for placement on the building’s metal floor decking.
About Structural Lightweight Concrete (SLC)
Structural lightweight concrete (SLC) offers design flexibility and significant cost savings by reducing dead load, minimizing supporting steel, and allowing for smaller foundations. Arcosa’s expanded shale or clay (ESC) lightweight aggregate has a ceramic composition, ensuring an excellent bond and elastic compatibility with the cementitious matrix of the concrete.
Compared to standard concrete, lightweight concrete using ESC offers superior thermal properties, higher fire ratings, and reduced autogenous shrinkage. It improves the contact zone between the aggregate and cement, reduces micro-cracking due to better elastic compatibility, and enhances sound absorption. It is also highly suitable for pumping applications, providing logistical efficiency on complex projects.
A Major Investment in Cleveland’s Future
Sherwin-Williams chairman and CEO, John G. Morikis, described the new facility as “a next-generation workplace to serve our customers, retain and attract employees, and offer opportunities to celebrate the Sherwin-Williams brand, while acting as a catalyst for future development around our new campus.”
Cleveland Mayor Justin M. Bibb praised the decision, saying, “The city applauds Sherwin-Williams’ further investment in Cleveland and Northeast Ohio with world-class facilities designed for the workforce of the future.”
The multi-phase move-in process is expected to occur in 2025, marking a major milestone for Sherwin-Williams and the city of Cleveland.
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