Johnson Wax – Frank Lloyd Wright
Commissioned by S.C. Johnson & Son president Herbert F. Johnson, the Johnson Wax Headquarters is a landmark of modern corporate architecture and a pivotal project in Frank Lloyd Wright’s career. Completed in 1939, the building introduced Wright’s bold use of Art Moderne curves, custom “Cherokee red” bricks, and the iconic dendriform “lily pad” columns, which support a luminous, skylit interior reminiscent of a forest canopy.
In response to its industrial surroundings, Wright created an inward-facing workplace—a serene, ordered space that embodied innovation and organic design. Every element, from the raked mortar joints to the polished red concrete floors and bespoke furniture, reflected his vision of total architectural unity.
The headquarters was later joined by the Johnson Wax Research Tower (1944–1950), forming a cohesive corporate campus and securing its place as a National Historic Landmark.
