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Frank Lloyd Wright’s SC Johnson Research Tower Topic of Upcoming Lecture

Dec. 3 Community Interest Program Features Frank Lloyd Wright Historian and Author, Mark Hertzberg

RACINE, Wis., Dec. 1, 2015 -- SC Johnson announced today the next event in its series of special architecture-themed community interest programs at its Racine, Wisconsin world headquarters. The free programs are a part of SC Johnson’s support of the Chicago Architecture Biennial and include a free evening tour of the SC Johnson campus.

On Thursday, Dec. 3, guest lecturer Mark Hertzberg will present a program from his book, “Frank Lloyd Wright’s SC Johnson Research Tower.”  H. F. Johnson Jr., third generation leader of SC Johnson, commissioned architectural icon Frank Lloyd Wright to create an innovative, new laboratory space in 1943. The architect accepted the challenge and the result was a new kind of skyscraper, one with double-height spaces, windows made of Pyrex glass tubing, and stripes of Wright's signature red brick, all balanced on a small pedestal base. The remarkable building opened to great acclaim in 1950 and was the home to many of SC Johnson’s most recognized brands—Raid®, Glade®, OFF!®, and Pledge®.

The SC Johnson Research Tower is one of modern architecture's most significant landmarks. The fifteen-story skyscraper is the only existing example of Wright's ambitious taproot design. Like limbs from a tree trunk, alternating square floors and round mezzanines branch out from the weight-bearing central core—a truly revolutionary idea at the time and an engineering marvel today.

Hertzberg is an award winning photojournalist and author of three books about Frank Lloyd Wright’s works in Racine. He serves on the board of Frank Lloyd Wright Wisconsin.

SC Johnson is a regional sponsor of the Chicago Architecture Biennial and has a long-standing commitment to preserving Wright’s legacy. SC Johnson’s global headquarters features two world renowned signature Frank Lloyd Wright-designed buildings.

To register for the Dec. 3 community interest program or learn about other programs in this lecture and film series, go to www.scjohnson.com/CIPreservations. The final program in this series is:

•    Dec. 10 at 6:30 p.m. – The Infinite Happiness documentary

All tours of the company’s global headquarters and community interest programs are open to the public and free with reservations.

The five-part series is just one of the free community interest programs hosted at SC Johnson. Non-profit organizations are able to co-sponsor speaking engagements, documentaries, or panel discussions of interest to the general public at SC Johnson’s Golden Rondelle Theater.

WHAT:

Frank Lloyd Wright’s SC Johnson Research Tower

Mark Hertzberg

author/photojournalist

WHEN:

Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015

6:30 p.m. – 8:15 p.m.

doors open at 6 p.m.

WHERE:

SC Johnson Global Headquarters – Golden Rondelle Theater

1525 Howe St, Racine, WI 53403