JE Dunn Construction, which with Hutton is joint venture general contractor on the nine-story, 350,000-sq-ft project, also confirmed the accident and death and that Rodriguez was “an employee of Midwest Drywall, a trade partner on the project. "Safety is our first priority on our jobsites, and we will participate in a complete investigation into this incident,” JE Dunn said in a statement.

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

Midwest Drywall is ranked at No. 275 on ENR’s 2025 Top 600 Specialty Contractors list and at No. 16 on the list of leading wall and ceilingcontractors.

Rodriguez, a married father of three, is praised in a GoFundMe organized on behalf of his family, as a hard 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. The campus is planned to serve as a catalyst for biomedical and healthcare education, improved patient outcomes and partnerships in emerging research fields, according to the university website.

Wichita State notes that “terracotta cladding, metal panels and ultra-high performance concrete panels will soon cover the orange backup wall panels now visible on much of the nine-story building’s exterior," according to a February posting. "With the building around 85% enclosed, interior work is beginning with drywall, painting and tile.”

Stacy Christie, director of special projects and facilities planning for the campus, said the building is on track to be finished in December, with staff moving in the following spring and classes starting in the summer of 2027.

“Drywall is largely complete on the first and second floors. Most of the stairwell center rails are in. Interior framing continues on the upper floor,” she said in the post.