Zurich North America CEO Mike Foley speaks during a topping-out ceremony Thursday for the placement of the highest piece of iron at the company's new 750,000-square-foot headquarters in Schaumburg. The headquarters is expected to open next year.
Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
Zurich North America marked a significant step in the construction of its new headquarters in Schaumburg Thursday with a topping-out ceremony for its new 750,000-square-foot building.
As local business and elected officials looked on, a crane lifted the structure's highest beam into place on the 40-acre site that was previously part of the sprawling Motorola Solutions campus.
Before the beam left the ground, however, those in attendance signed their names on it to become memorialized as a permanent part of the state-of-the-art building.
Among the attendees were Zurich North America Commercial CEO Mike Foley, Schaumburg Mayor Al Larson and Democratic state Rep. Michelle Mussman of Schaumburg.
Zurich North America is not a newcomer to Schaumburg, but relocating from the two towers to the south that have been the insurance firm's longtime home.
The new building was designed to be environmentally sustainable and is currently the largest build-to-suit office project in the U.S.
Though the topping-out was a major milestone in the new building's construction, its completion won't occur until the fall of 2016 when it will welcome approximately 2,500 employees and contractors.
Schaumburg Mayor Al Larson signs the beam during a topping-out ceremony for the placement of the highest piece of iron at Zurich North America's new 750,000 square-foot headquarters in Schaumburg. The building, located on the Motorola Solutions campus, is expected to open next year.
Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
Caroline Saunders, Clayco senior vice president and general counsel, signs the beam during a topping-out ceremony for the placement of the highest piece of iron at Zurich North America's new headquarters in Schaumburg. Chicago-based Clayco is leading the project.
Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
A beam is lifted into place during a topping-out ceremony to mark the placement of the highest piece of iron at Zurich North America's new headquarters in Schaumburg.
Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
An exterior view of Zurich North America's new 750,000-square-foot headquarters in Schaumburg. The building, located on the Motorola Solutions campus, is expected to open next year.
Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com