A new and practical style of desk, made possible by adopting the cantilever principle of construction.
S.C. Johnson Administration Building Frank Lloyd Wright consulted closely with Steelcase in the development of new forms of desks and chairs, conceived as modular units that further expressed the principles at work in the architecture of the S.C. Johnson and Son Administration Building in Racine, Wis., and supported the work styles of
its employees.

It was an early venture into creating a total, integrated office environment. Wright invited David Hunting, Sr., secretary and an owner of Steelcase (then Metal Office Furniture Company), to Taliesin in Spring Green in November, 1936, for a preliminary discussion. Later they met in Racine with Johnson executives. Wright made rough sketches on a piece of paper from his pocket. Steelcase’s engineering department then translated them into preliminary drawings, which Wright modified until he was satisfied. A total of 40 different pieces were designed, including nine variations of the basic desk to accommodate different tasks.

In a 1985 interview, Hunting said,



The furniture is still in use at the Johnson headquarters, and in the years since Steelcase has continued to keep in sight the goals shared with Wright, transforming the ways people work through a human-centered design philosophy.



Meyer May House Restoration During the
S.C. Johnson project, Steelcase’s David Hunting, Sr., and Wright formed a relationship that lasted
for years.

In the 1980’s Hunting suggested that Steelcase purchase and restore the Meyer May house, Wright’s first major commission in Michigan, located in Steelcase’s hometown.

Robert C. Pew, then chairman of Steelcase, agreed that restoring the Meyer May House was an excellent opportunity to pay homage to Wright and provide a gift to the public. Steelcase purchased the house in 1985 and extensive research was underway.

After months of interviews and intensive study of reference materials, work began to restore the interior and exterior to its original design. The restoration took two years. The work included removal of a 1922 addition, rebuilding the roof to restore its cantilevered design, replacing all the plaster ceilings, restoring a Niedecken mural under six layers of paint, cleaning and repairing more than 100 art glass windows and skylights, completely recreating the interior with original pieces and exacting reproductions, and recreating the landscape to its 1909 design.

The house was first made open to the public in 1987, offering a rare opportunity to see a totally designed home just as Wright had envisioned it.



Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio
Wright Home & Studio Restoration In the 1980s Steelcase supported the restoration of the Frank Lloyd Wright Home & Studio in Oak Park, Ill., completed in 1987. As a result of Steelcase’s contribution, the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation was able to completely restore the studio portion of the building where Wright worked from 1898 until 1909. The Oak Park building is a National Historic Landmark.

Light Screens: The leaded glass of Frank Lloyd Wright
Light Screen Exhibit During 2001–2003, Steelcase sponsored Light Screens: The Leaded Glass of Frank Lloyd Wright, the first exhibition devoted to the full range of Wright’s work in the design and use of art glass in architecture.

Showcasing more than 50 of Wright’s windows along with portfolio plates and archival photographs of work done between 1885 and 1923, the exhibition debuted at the American Craft Museum in New York City and a national tour brought it to five other museums throughout the United States. Julie L. Sloan, distinguished glass scholar and conservator, was the curator.