Sherwin-Williams to address data center challenges at DCD Connect Virginia

Cleveland, OH – Growing demand for artificial intelligence infrastructure is increasing pressure on data center developers to expand power capacity, accelerate construction and address long-term facility performance, according to Sherwin-Williams.

The company will discuss these challenges at DCD Connect Virginia 2026, participating in a Nov. 4 panel discussion titled “From the Ground Up: Closing the Gap Between Construction and Operations.” The session will run from 10 to 11 a.m. on the Construction Summit Stage.

Joseph Windover, Sherwin-Williams construction solutions executive, will join industry experts to discuss early coordination between design, construction and operations teams, including ways to reduce long-term risks, address workforce challenges and prepare for specialized facility retrofits.

Discussions at YOTTA 2026 highlighted several trends shaping data center development, including modular and prefabricated construction, earlier specification decisions and growing infrastructure demands for power, cooling and water systems.

“As AI infrastructure projects scale, stakeholders are increasingly balancing power, cooling, water, modular construction, speed-to-build and long-term performance at the same time,” said Laura Adams-Keie, North America market segment manager for data center and semiconductor markets at Sherwin-Williams Protective & Marine. “Earlier coordination across project teams can help create better alignment as those decisions become more interconnected.”

Modular construction can accelerate project delivery but also creates challenges involving coating specifications, fabrication, installation and maintenance. Sherwin-Williams said aligning shop-applied, field-applied and future maintenance systems can help maintain consistent protection across structural steel, electrical and mechanical systems, cooling equipment and water infrastructure.

The company recently introduced its Data Center Facility Guide, which outlines protection considerations for server halls, electrical and mechanical spaces, cooling systems, power infrastructure, roofing and water treatment environments. The guide is designed to help project teams coordinate construction, operations and maintenance decisions earlier in development.

“As modular construction becomes more common and infrastructure systems grow more complex, decisions made during design and construction can influence maintenance planning, future upgrades and long-term facility performance for years to come,” Windover said.

Sherwin-Williams Protective & Marine, along with the company’s General Industrial, Coil & Extrusion and Energy businesses, works with data center stakeholders on coatings, flooring, wall systems and other protective solutions intended to support facility durability and lifecycle performance.