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Situated on 1,400 acres
of land and spanning a man-made ravine, the Deere & Company World
Headquarters in Moline was designed by architect Eero Saarinen and is an
icon of the Modern movement. Completed in 1964, the original seven-story
office complex is the first architectural design to use Cor-Ten steel as a
primary building material. (Over time, Cor-Ten develops a patina of iron
oxide that protects the steel members.) The surrounding landscape, designed
by Hideo Sasaki & Associates, includes artwork by abstract sculptor Henry
Moore. The sleek, contemporary campus quickly became a model for office
complexes during the latter half of the 20th century. In 1978, the company expanded,
adding a 200,000-square-foot addition by Saarinen’s successor firm, Kevin
Roche, John Dinkeloo & Associates. The complex has won numerous design
awards and is included on the American Institute of Architects’ list of “150
Great Places in Illinois.” For 45 years, Deere & Company has maintained this
groundbreaking headquarters building through continuous care and meticulous
attention to detail
Photo credits: 1-5, 7 Deere & Company; 5, 6 Landmarks Illinois
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