Demolition of now obsolete Schaumburg village hall begins, time capsule recovered

Demolition on the exterior of Schaumburg’s former village hall started Thursday morning, but not before a hidden time capsule had been safely recovered from within.

A plaque indicates the time capsule is not to be opened until 2081, which is still further in the future than the entire 52-year life span of the now obsolete building in which it was buried.

Though a tall window elsewhere had previously been removed more carefully for equipment to get inside, a bulldozer smashed through the south side of what had been the planners’ area of the community development department at 8:12 a.m.

While marking the first irreversible change to the exterior of the building at 101 Schaumburg Court, Thursday’s work was primarily to expedite the removal of debris from the ongoing interior demolition.

The full structural demolition of the building will begin next week. The concrete and block are being recycled, according to John Bajek, senior superintendent for construction manager Camosy Inc. of Zion.

The firm has guaranteed a maximum price of $44.2 million for the construction of the new, two-story village hall on the same site that will begin later this spring and end in late 2026.

Another $5.8 million is expected to be spent on furniture, fixtures and equipment.

Village staff are currently working at the temporary village hall at 1000 E. Woodfield Road, which will ultimately be torn down and replaced with a new police station.