Pillsbury Project Progress: Silver Coating Gone, Smiley Face Transformation on the Horizon

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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — The dismantling of the former Pillsbury plant in Springfield is steadily advancing.

In a recent update on Tuesday, Team Pillsbury announced significant developments at the site. By Wednesday, the last remnants of the silver coating on the Headhouse were stripped away. Anticipated changes by next week include the removal of the iconic smiley face from the 180-foot-tall Turbo Building, followed by the plant’s demolition with the aid of a crane.

Team Pillsbury assured that the environmental cleanup of the site is slated to conclude within the coming week. The removal of asbestos began in March 2025, and after eight months of dedicated work, the site is nearing completion.

The asbestos in the manufacturing and warehouse structures was eradicated by July. Since March, efforts have focused on removing the silver coating, which contains roughly 5% asbestos, from the silos and Headhouse.

On Wednesday, workers were scheduled to finalize the removal of the silver coating from the Headhouse’s southern wall. A total of approximately 290,000 square feet of silver coating has been meticulously extracted, captured, and safely disposed of in compliance with regulations. Throughout the process, air quality has been monitored through air sampling and clearance testing.

Team Pillsbury said the 10-story Turbo Building with the south facing smiley face was also expected to be removed Wednesday morning. But, officials told WCIA that it had been delayed.

Earlier this year, the 160-foot smokestack came down in mid-September, followed by the 96,000-square foot five-story Grocery Building and the 24,000-square foot nine-story Bulk Storage Building. For more information on Move Pillsbury Forward, click here.