SC Johnson Research Tower

The research tower is now open to the public, unfortunately you still can't take photos inside any of the buildings at SC Johnson.  I was pleased to see the progress of the parking garage concrete improvements, and the tube upgrades in the office building were complete.

SC Johnson Building, Racine, Wisconsin

The Golden Rondelle was originally designed by Lippincott and Marguilies for the 1964-65 New York World's Fair. The Taliesen Associate Architects were commissioned to redesign the building to complement the SC Johnson Administration Building and Research Tower. The project was completed in 1967 and now serves as the public relations building, and the beginning of all SC Johnson campus tours.

SC Johnson Buildings, Racine, Wisconsin, August 6, 2011. Unfortunately the tower has been closed to the public since it no longer is up to modern-day code. However, the Administration Building is still available for tours. I was surprised how low the ceiling was in comparison to what I've seen on television and in photographs. However, it is an amazing structure. If you take a tour, it is free, but be aware you will spend more time touring the SC Johnson Fortaleza Hall than the Frank Lloyd Wright structure, and learn more about the history of the company than Frank Lloyd Wright. But, that's a small price to pay to view such a landmark.

The chairs for the office building Wright designed originally had 3 legs, but were redesigned with 4 legs after employees kept tipping their chairs. I know I've seen one of the original 3 leg chairs, it may have been at Taliesin East.

The Administration building was built in 1936 with additions in 1951. The Research Tower was built in 1944.