Rarely seen images of Frank Lloyd Wright's 1950s science labs

A fully mocked-up version of a 1950s laboratory in the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed research tower at SC Johnson world headquarters in Racine, Wis. Photograph: SC Johnson

Many people may be familiar with the household cleaning products that SC Johnson produces, but few realise that these products were originally developed in research and development laboratories designed by well known architect Frank Lloyd Wright. The Wisconsin-born architect designed the company’s administration building, which opened in 1939, and their research tower, which opened in 1950. The 15-storey research tower, is located at the heart of the company’s global headquarters in Racine, Wisconsin, and housed the company’s scientific laboratories for 32 years. Within 10 years of its opening, scientists developed and introduced several of SC Johnson’s popular products that are still on the market, including Raid (1955), Glade (1956), OFF! (1957) and Pledge (1958).

Wright has a rich history with SC Johnson. In 1936, SC Johnson leader, HF Johnson Jr sought the architecture expertise of Wright and their long-standing partnership began. Both buildings are now on the National Register of Historic Places. SC Johnson opened up the tower to visitors for the first time earlier this year. See more photo galleries here.

External view of the Frank Lloyd Wright-­designed SC Johnson administration building and research tower at the company’s global headquarters in Racine, Wis. Photograph: SC Johnson

Frank Lloyd Wright, right, in the administration building with HF Johnson, Jr during a visit to Racine, 1950s. Photograph: SC Johnson

A full mock-up of what one of the research tower labs would have looked like in the 1950s. Photograph: SC Johnson

Original SC Johnson household products from the 1950s that were developed in the research tower. Photograph: SC Johnson

View down from the mezzanine in the research tower to a desk designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Photograph: SC Johnson

Clerks working in the great workroom of SC Johnson’s Frank Lloyd Wright-designed administration building, circa 1940s. Photograph: SC Johnson

Interior view of the great workroom in the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed SC Johnson administration building, circa 1980s. Photograph: SC Johnson

An office chair designed by Frank Lloyd Wright shown here with glass tube windows in Wright’s original buildings at SC Johnson headquarters. Photograph: SC Johnson

Frank Lloyd Wright designed office furniture that is still in use today in SC Johnson offices in Racine, Wis. Photograph: SC Johnson

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