David Rodriguez, 45, died March 30 after falling 60 feet from scaffolding at the $300 million Wichita Biomedical Campus under construction downtown. A handyman employed by Midwest Drywall fell seven stories and was transported to the hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries, according to local news reports.
Midwest Drywall, which halted work on the project at English and Topeka streets, released a statement to the media confirming the accident and that it is “heartbroken to confirm.” [the death] from a member of our team.”
JE Dunn Construction, which with Hutton is a joint venture general contractor on the nine-story, 350,000-square-foot project, also confirmed the accident and death and that Rodriguez was “an employee of Midwest Drywall, a business partner on the project.”
The US Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating the incident.
Midwest Drywall is ranked #275 on ENR’s 2025 Top 600 Specialty Contractors list and #16 on the Top Wall & Roofing Contractors list.
Rodriguez, a married father of three, is praised in a GoFundMe organized on behalf of his family, as a worker “who lived to serve his friends and family.”
The project is a joint effort of Wichita State University, Wichita State University Tech and the University of Kansas Medical Center. According to the university’s website, the campus is envisioned to serve as a catalyst for biomedical and healthcare education, improved patient outcomes and partnerships in emerging research fields.
He notes that “terracotta siding, metal panels and high-performance concrete panels will soon cover the orange safety wall panels now visible on much of the nine-story building’s exterior,” according to a February post. “With the building about 85% enclosed, interior work begins with plasterboard, paint and tiling.”
Stacy Christie, director of special projects and facilities planning for the campus, said the building is on track for completion in December, with staff moving in the following spring and classes starting in the summer of 2027.
“The plasterboard is largely complete on the first and second floors. Most of the central stair rails are in. The interior structure continues on the upper floor,” he told the publication.
