Architects: Frank Lloyd Wright
Year: 1950
Photography: Ezra Stoller/Esto, SC Johnson, Mark Hertzberg
City: Racine
Country: United States

Johnson Wax Headquarters, the administrative building of S.C. Johnson & Son in Racine, Wisconsin, was designed by renowned American architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Constructed between 1936 and 1939 for the company’s president, Herbert F. “Hib” Johnson, the building is notable for its innovative “lily pad” columns and unique design features. These architectural elements helped revive Wright’s career at a time when his influence was waning. In addition to the main building, the nearby Johnson Wax Research Tower, built between 1944 and 1950, also by Wright, complements the complex. Both structures were designated National Historic Landmarks in 1976. The Tower now functions as a museum showcasing Wright’s designs and the company’s history, occasionally opening for public tours.

This article delves into the architectural history of Frank Lloyd Wright’s 1950 SC Johnson Wax Research Tower in Racine, Wisconsin. The tower, where products like Glade air fresheners and Off! insect repellent was developed and became the hub for many of SC Johnson’s innovations.

Wright’s collaboration with SC Johnson, known for their commitment to innovation, resulted in a groundbreaking yet problematic structure. The tower expanded the company’s headquarters adjacent to Wright’s earlier Administration Building, reflecting his evolving ideas on modern workspaces and biomimetic design. The building’s floor slabs cantilever from a reinforced concrete core, enclosed by bands of brick and glass tubes. While revered, the tower is now mostly unused, seen either as a form of overtaking function or as a daring architectural feat.

Sc johnson wax research tower / frank lloyd wright | classics on architecture lab

Ten years after the Administration Building’s completion, SC Johnson sought new laboratories for their research and development division. Despite previous challenges with the Administration Building, Herbert Fisk Johnson, the company’s third-generation leader, formed a close bond with Wright, granting him substantial design freedom. Johnson envisioned a building that “so spectacularly combines beauty and function” that it would inspire employees.

For Wright, the Johnson buildings marked a departure from his Prairie style, incorporating elements of streamline modern into his light-filled, materially rich designs.

Connected to the Administration Building by a bridge, the Research Tower stands 153 feet tall, 54 feet below ground. The tower is located in an urban area surrounded by factories, shops, and homes, minimizing its connection to the natural context that Wright cherished. The main entry is situated near the carport under the building, and a cylindrical elevator transports occupants to the second level, where a glass tube bridge leads to the laboratory spaces.

The tower’s compact, vertical form contrasts sharply with the expensive horizontal design of the Administration Building. While the Great Workroom of the Administration building features a vast open space, the tower’s compressed floor plates, and low ceilings create an intimate, enclosed environment.

The Administration Building’s solid brick walls give way to the tower’s crystalline bands, offering a glowing presence at night, although the glass distorts views inside and out.

Wright left the first floor of the tower open, exposing the building’s structural core. The second and third floors, along with a roof terrace, rest on slender dendriform columns.

The compact, trunk-like core of interconnected tubes houses all the essential building services, including air circulation, electricity, water, and gas. This design minimized the distance utility services needed to travel, making the structure more efficient compared to a horizontal building.

Each slab of the tower tapers towards the edge, reflecting the decreasing structural forces of the cantilevers. The alternating circular and square floors create a double-height space between levels.

The slab edge forms a brick-clad knee wall that aligns with the laboratory casework, demonstrating Wright’s close collaborations with scientists on interior design.

Every other floor functions as a mezzanine set back from the exterior walls. Pyrex glass tubes span the height of two floors, held in place by aluminum stanchions, with an inner glass plate lining the exterior. The neoprene gaskets between the tubes were prone to leaks, which were only resolved when a new sealant was developed.

The tower received widespread attention during and after its construction, with architecture, business, and general interest publications praising its innovative design. Two exhibitions at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in the 1950s also featured the building.

However, the occupants of the tower gave mixed feedback. The vertical layout discouraged casual interaction, and the slow elevator limited contact between employees. The low ceilings near the core conflicted with equipment use, and as the building’s occupancy grew, it became difficult to regulate the temperature. Despite these issues, the glass tube walls provided a “gorgeous visual effect.”

In 1982, SC Johnson opened a new facility for its expanding research division, and the tower was largely abandoned due to safety concerns. Evacuation was challenging with only one narrow staircase. Despite its limited use, SC Johnson has meticulously maintained Wright’s design, replacing over 21,000 bricks and 5,800 Pyrex tubes during renovations in 2013. While three levels are now used as office and exhibit space, the company has no plans to update the building for full use due to potential compromises to Wright’s vision. Public tours of the tower began in May 2014.

The SC Johnson Wax Research Tower, along with the Administration Building, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

References

[1] Lipman, Johnathan. Frank Lloyd Wright and the Johnson Wax Buildings. Rizzoli, 1986.
[2] Siry, Joseph. “Frank Lloyd Wright’s Innovative Approach to Environmental Control in His Buildings for the SC Johnson Company.” Construction History Journal, 28, no. 1 (2013): 141-164.
Year: 1950.