A 57-year-old contractor working at Northwestern University’s James L. Allen Center in Evanston died Thursday after falling four stories from the building’s roof, authorities said. The man fell just before 3:30 p.m. and was pronounced dead at the scene. His name has not been released while investigators continue to sort out exactly what happened.
Evanston police said the worker had been operating equipment on the Allen Center roof when he fell and that police, university officials and contractors are cooperating with the investigation, according to FOX 32 Chicago. Officials told the outlet there are no signs of criminal activity tied to the fall. The station reported the incident occurred at the James L. Allen Center at 2169 Campus Drive.
First responders arrived just after 3:25 p.m. and the 57-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene, per Patch. Northwestern’s campus map lists the James L. Allen Center at 2169 Campus Drive and describes it as a four-story Kellogg executive-education facility.
Investigation and Safety Context
Police and university personnel are continuing their probe while contractors on site cooperate, and investigators have not released additional details about what led to the fall. Workplace fatalities typically prompt reviews by federal and state safety agencies, and falls remain the leading cause of death on construction sites; the Bureau of Labor Statistics counted hundreds of fatal falls among construction and extraction workers in its most recent annual report. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration says employers in construction must provide fall protection at six feet and lists guardrails, safety nets and personal fall-arrest systems as common protections when work at height is required.
What’s Next for the Site
Authorities said the investigation is active and that the man’s identity will be released after next-of-kin notifications, according to FOX 32 Chicago. Northwestern and the city had not detailed whether construction work at the Allen Center will be paused while the review continues. The city and university did not provide a timeline for the investigation.
