Decades ahead of his time, Wright employed innovative modular furniture and an open office plan to make the workspace more productive. The Administration Building also was one of the first in the United States to be completely air-conditioned.
Perhaps the most recognised feature of the Administration Building’s Great Workroom is its columns. Wright called them "dendriform", meaning tree-shaped, but many also refer to them as lily pads because of the unique shape of their top supporting pads. The columns are just 9 inches in diameter at their base, but blossom to 18.5 feet in diameter at the top.
Despite their beauty, not everyone shared Wright’s optimism that the columns were a good idea. Initially, the Wisconsin Industrial Commission refused to approve the building plans, saying that they believed the design of the columns to be unrealistic. Wright, however, was not deterred.
In 1937, he oversaw a structural integrity experiment. Hundreds of onlookers and H.F. himself gathered to watch the dramatic field test. In the end, the columns proved their worth. They withstood a load of sixty tons – ten times the required amount. The construction was approved.