New Building at International Headquarters Reinforces SC Johnson’s Reputation as a Great Place to Work
As the centerpiece of SC Johnson’s Racine, Wis. international headquarters, Fortaleza Hall reinforces the company’s commitment to employees by continuing to provide an environment that maintains the Great Place to Work® reputation the company has earned over the years.
Private Makes A Difference
As a privately-held company, SC Johnson has the ability to focus on the next generation, rather than the next earnings report. This means the company has been able to consistently uphold its core values, including workplace excellence. And employees have responded positively as reflected by an extremely low turnover rate – just 2 percent.
The building commemorates Sam Johnson, fourth-generation family leader of SC Johnson, and houses cutting-edge employee amenities. The 60,000 square foot facility has two distinct sections:
Fortaleza Hall gives employees and visitors a historical context for the company and the advances that continue to take place through displays and memorabilia. It includes:
• Legacy gallery – tells the story of the Carnaúba expedition that the Johnson family undertook, houses artifacts and memorabilia as well as shares the rich corporate history over the 124 years of the company’s existence
• Carnaúba aircraft – which is suspended from the ceiling of the facility; the twin-engine S-38 amphibious plane was flown by Sam Johnson and his sons Curt and Fisk to Fortaleza, Brazil to retrace the steps of H.F. Johnson Jr., who made the journey 75 years earlier in search of the Carnaúba palm – and the rich, waxy substance it provided for SC Johnson wax products
• Frank Lloyd Wright Library and Reading Room – a visitor destination for the more than 4,500 Wright enthusiasts that come to the headquarters buildings each year. The library opened with more than 300 books about Frank Lloyd Wright and his career, offers more than 250 Wright drawings, features video programs that tell Wright’s story, houses 125 interior, exterior and construction Wright photos and shares 140 of Wright’s personal letters
• Vertical Garden – designed by Patrick Blanc, Artist, Botanist with the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (National Center for Scientific Research, France) and holder of two doctorates from the Université Pierre et Marie Curie in Paris, is one of four permanent Blanc installations in the U.S. The wall is 18 feet high by 49 feet long and features 79 species of plants and a total of nearly 2,500 plants largely native to Central and South America.
• Polyconic mosaic map – mosaic wood floor of the Western hemisphere made of four different kinds of end-grain certified Forest Stewardship Council wood; wood harvested on a sustainable basis.
• Compass – three U.S. black walnut curved benches begin in the north part of the building and run south, mirroring the polyconic mosaic map and depicting all the stops that H.F. Johnson, Jr. and Sam Johnson took on their expeditions to Brazil
• Soundscape – a 3-D veil of sound; computer-generated and linked to National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to compliment the weather and the time of day in Racine with sounds of Brazil
• Waterfall and reflecting pool – water falls 14 feet into a reflecting pool 28 feet long; system circulates and stores 750 gallons of water and is framed by a monumental 24-step glass tread staircase
• The mural – made of photos taken on H.F. Johnson Jr.’s 1935 expedition and depict a Carnaúba palm grove in Fortaleza
• Grand staircases – two grand staircases honor H.F. Johnson Jr. and Sam Johnson with quotes that speak to the values and foundation of the company; H.F. Johnson Jr.’s staircase is on the north side of the building and Sam Johnson’s is on the south side, parallel with the captain’s seat of the S-38 plane
The Commons is designed to provide employees with a comfortable and inspiring environment and the services they value:
• Employee dining – Alimento (the Portuguese word for “food”) offers more than 3,100 square feet of dining space; approximately 1,000 employees can be served here each day
• Concierge services – to help employees with important personal tasks that they wouldn’t otherwise be able to accomplish during the workday
• Company store – to allow employees to purchase SC Johnson products and logo items at discounted prices
• Bank – for employees’ checking, savings, loan, mortgage and investment needs
• Fitness center – more than 4,400 square feet with state-of-the art equipment and resources to help employees stay fit
What it Means to be a Great Place to Work
SC Johnson, a Family Company, is committed to being a best place to work in the U.S. and around the world. The company’s innovative programs enable it to recruit and retain the best talent. The company is built on innovation, which is evident in the various benefits and amenities offered to employees.
Various institutions and media outlets have recognized SC Johnson as a great place to work for people of all backgrounds and roles. Recent accolades include those from:
• FORTUNE magazine’s “100 Best Companies to Work for” list for the tenth time
• Global recognition by the Great Place to Work Institute® as a Best Company to Work For in Argentina, Canada, Chile, Germany, Italy, Mexico, The Netherlands, Turkey, Venezuela, Central and Latin America
• Recognized by AARP as a top company for those over 50 for the third consecutive year
• Appeared on the “100 Best Companies for Working Mothers” list from Working Mother magazine for the 20th time
• Ranked sixth among top companies for disabilities and in the top 50 companies for diversity in 2008, according to DiversityInc.
• Received a score of 100 percent for the seventh consecutive year on the Corporate Equality Index, an annual survey administered by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation
Worklife Balance Key to Hiring and Keeping Quality Employees
Today’s employees are looking for ways to alleviate day-to-day stress and find more balance in their lives. In addition to the new building, SC Johnson offers a variety of programs and services to help employees realize that sense of balance. This includes:
• Van pool – to cut down on driving stress and gasoline usage
• Johnson Mutual Benefit Association – a world-class recreation and fitness facility that is 50,000 square feet and sits on more than 140 acres called Armstrong Park
• Lighthouse Resort – an exclusive vacation spot in Minocqua, Wis. that offers 22 cabins and a main lodge for employees and their families
• Holiday shut down – the company truly shuts down near the end of each year and people get to enjoy spending their holiday break away from the office or manufacturing line
• Childcare center – to provide year-round, full/part time, before/after school care – giving employees peace of mind as it relates to their children
• Sabbaticals – to help employees manage their lives more effectively
• On-site dry cleaning, mail, banking and medical services
• Overnight hotel program – company subsidization of local hotel stays for employees living outside the area who’ve have a long day or expect an early start in the morning
• Telecommuting – that allows employees to work one-fifth of their scheduled workweek from home
• On-site medical staff – provides medical services and/or consultation to employees in several locations during the workday
• Summer hours – half day Fridays for full time employees who have already worked their 40 hours
Visit Fortaleza Hall
Fortaleza Hall is open to the public and invites visitors to tour the building. Tours of Fortaleza Hall will run on Fridays and Saturdays throughout the year.
• Fridays, beginning Feb. 12 – April 30: 10 a.m., 2 p.m., 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
• Fridays, May 7 – Oct. 29: 9:30 a.m., 10 a.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.
• Fridays, Nov. 5 – March 25, 2011: 9:30 a.m., 1:45 p.m. and 2 p.m.
• Saturdays, beginning Feb. 13 – May 1: 11 a.m., 1 p.m.
• Saturdays, May 8 – Oct. 30: 10 a.m., and 1:15 p.m.
Tours are free of charge. Visitors are also welcome to tour the Frank Lloyd Wright buildings on campus on Fridays. Reservations for both tours are required.
The Frank Lloyd Wright Library and Reading Room will also be available to visitors 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., with reservations and based upon availability.
To make a reservation, call 262-260-2154 or email Rondelle@scj.com