When Sherwin-Williams decided to expand its operations in Statesville, North Carolina, developer Keith Corp. was presented with a tricky challenge — how to create a building with the necessary fire-safety measures for the paint that would be stored there.
Oil-based paint and other chemical-based coatings, products made by Sherwin-Williams, are highly flammable. Sherwin-Williams wanted the facility to be designed with an advanced fire-protection system "to comply with safety regulations for the storage of specialized products," according to Keith Corp.
"Given the nature of Sherwin-Williams' products, specialized fire suppression measures were meticulously implemented to ensure maximum safety and compliance with industry regulations," Keith Corp. said.
The project was selected as the winner of the 2025 CoStar Impact Award for commercial development of the year for Charlotte, as judged by an independent panel of local industry professionals.
Sherwin-Williams said in a news release that the new property adds "sizable pallet storage capacity to support the company in meeting increasing demand for its architectural paint and coatings products."
About the project: Construction started in 2022, and the 798,000-square-foot building opened last year at Larkin Regional Commerce Park in Statesville, about 40 miles north of Charlotte.
What the judges said: "The impact to the Statesville region will be through new jobs specific to this facility and as a catalyst for future growth and investment in the region," said Dillard Williams, senior director at Spectrum Cos.
They made it happen: Keith Corp.'s team included Alan Lewis, managing partner, and Robert Combs, senior project manager.