SC Johnson Administration Building and Research Tower
A corporate headquarters designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, known for its mushroom-column great hall and the glass-tube-windowed Research Tower; a US National Historic Landmark.
The SC Johnson company headquarters campus is located in Racine, Wisconsin. The Administration Building was completed in 1936–1939 and designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Its core is a large office hall supported by slender, water lily-shaped mushroom columns and lit through Pyrex glass tubes, and it is regarded as one of the important buildings of the 20th century. The 15-storey Research Tower beside it was completed in 1950, with floor slabs cantilevered from a central core. It was taken out of use in 1982, and after renovation in the 2010s it opened to visitors in 2014. The campus also includes Fortaleza Hall, designed by Foster + Partners, which displays the company's history and Wright-related exhibits. Tours are free but must be booked in advance on the official website. A full tour takes about 90 minutes to 2 hours and involves walking and stairs. The building was listed as a US National Historic Landmark in 1976 and is the starting point of Wisconsin's Wright Trail. The drive south from Milwaukee takes about 40 minutes. The site is still a working office, so the scope of photography and visiting follows the tour arrangements.
Opening hours
Guided visits by reservation only; check the official website for times
Nearby sights
- Basilica of St. Josaphat
- Boerner Botanical Gardens
- Henry Maier Festival Park (Summerfest)
- Lakeshore State Park
- Historic Third Ward
- Discovery World
- Harley-Davidson Museum
- Milwaukee Public Market