Architect Bruce Graham described the Upjohn Corporate Headquarters as a building that contained “unexpected experiences such as one might find in a man-made forest.” Deeply rooted in the natural environment, Upjohn’s design incorporated seven interior courtyards landscaped with stones, trees, and shallow pools of water. The project was an exercise in total design—the concept that every part of a space should be considered and controlled, from an office’s natural light to its chairs and coffee pots.

Project Facts

Completion Year: 1961
Site Area: 100 acres
Project Area: 286,000 ft²
Number of Stories: 2

Project Awards

1970 • American Society of Landscape Architects • Merit Award
1962 • Administrative Management Magazine • Office of the Year Award
1962 • American Institute of Steel Construction • Architectural Award of Excellence

Inspired by the courtyard layout of Gordon Bunshaft’s Connecticut General Life Insurance Headquarters, architect Bruce Graham designed the Upjohn building with a series of seven interior gardens landscaped with trees, pools, stones, and sculptures. Graham was also influenced by the architecture of his native Peru, where homes contained central, open-air courtyards that flooded interior spaces with natural light.

The low-profile structure covered 286,000 gross square feet, rising just one and one-half stories. The lower level—built into the sloped ground—comprised service, garage, mechanical, cafeteria, recreation, and reception areas. The upper level housed clerical and executive offices, each with a view of the interior landscaped gardens.

Upjohn’s finishes were uniquely detailed, from its natural stone walls to its white aluminum frieze of geometric patterns that defined the roof edges. The offices were divided by moveable steel and glass screens. Other modular components included portable steel storage units and sculptural plaster ceiling tiles fitted with recessed lighting. Graham’s wife, Jane Abend, planned the interior spaces and created several original designs for the office furniture.

In the 1990s, the Upjohn company was acquired by new ownership. From 2005 to 2007, the company consolidated its offices and demolished five former Upjohn buildings, including the Graham-designed headquarters.