How Johler Demolition Transformed a Tower Into Green Space
July 03, 2025
When Gallagher Insurance set out to expand and enhance its global campus in Rolling Meadows, Illinois, it wasn’t by building up but by tearing down. The company acquired a neighboring 15-acre site with the vision of transforming it into a landscaped extension of their headquarters. To do that, the 120-foot-tall office tower at 2550 Golf Road needed to come down.
That’s where Johler Demolition came in.
Selected for Strength and Strategy
Johler Demolition, an NDA member, was awarded the project thanks to its competitive pricing, robust fleet and deep experience with complex demolitions. The work kicked off in October 2023 and wrapped up in July 2024.
The team approached the high-rise structure methodically. “At the start, removing debris from the interior of all the floors was a priority to avoid mixing it with the building’s structural components,” said a representative from Johler. To do this, the team installed a mast climber on the building’s side, providing access to all 10 floors, along with a trash chute that allowed debris to be funneled efficiently out of the structure.
Equipment and Execution
Once interior gutting was complete, the structural demolition began. A Link-Belt LS-518 friction crane with a wrecking ball was brought in for the top-down deconstruction. A high-reach excavator joined the process as the building came down to a more manageable height. On the ground, a coordinated fleet of machines processed, sorted and loaded out materials, allowing for seamless recycling and waste management. In total, 85% of the materials removed from the site were recycled.
Navigating Height and Depth
While taking down a 120-foot structure posed one set of challenges, the project’s complexity didn’t stop there. The tower sat atop a 15-foot-deep basement that extended into a portion of the planned green space and included an underground parking garage. Managing groundwater during the removal of the concrete foundation — and properly backfilling the massive void left behind — required ongoing monitoring and precision.
The work was carried out by a team of five operators and four laborers, all trained to handle the site’s unique challenges with safety and efficiency in mind.
From Tower to Transformation
In the end, the project was a success by every measure. “It was completed safely and as efficiently as possible,” the Johler team said. With the structure now removed and the site ready for its next chapter, Gallagher Insurance moves one step closer to its vision of a more open, green and inviting corporate campus.