Today SC Johnson Chairman and CEO Fisk Johnson announced Finding Carnaúba, a journey he and several family members will embark upon. The Johnsons are hoping to find the wreckage of the original Carnaúba airplane that was lost in the Pacific Ocean.
Johnsons late grandfather H.F. Johnson, Jr. flew the legendary amphibious plane 15,000 miles to Brazil in 1935, searching for a sustainable source of wax the carnaúba palm tree. In 1998, Johnson, his father and brother retraced the expedition in a replica of the Carnaúba plane, completing a historic family journey chronicled in the film Carnaúba, A Sons Memoir.
My father always felt that the spirit of adventure embodied by my grandfathers expedition reflected the spirit, culture and history of the company and there is no better symbol of that spirit than the aircraft itself, said Johnson. The Carnaúba plane represents the spirit of family the spirit of adventure, and the spirit of leadership-all values that are part of who we are as a company.
This summers Finding Carnaúba journey was inspired by underwater video footage recently captured off the coast of Indonesia. The footage offers a glimpse of the skeleton of an aircraft that resembles to the Carnaúbas unique shape. Noted Johnson, The Carnaúba expedition started with that remarkable plane. Ultimately, both the 1935 and 1998 journeys were tremendously important to me, my family and the company. We are thrilled to know that the Carnaúba plane may be found.
Johnson also announced today the continuation of Project Honor, the plan to construct a new building honoring the late Chairman Emeritus Sam Johnson. The building, which will be on the companys campus in Racine, will display the replica Carnaúba aircraft from the 1998 expedition, along with hopes to feature photos or part of the original Carnaúba plane. It will also convey the extraordinary and inspirational story of the Carnaúba adventure, while offering an educational, informative experience for the community and visitors.
I could not be more excited about being one step closer to making this dream a reality, said Johnson. Sharing the Carnaúba and all it stands for with the people of SC Johnson, the other Johnson companies as well as the residents of Racine will be a fitting tribute to my father.
Along with celebrating the Carnaúba, Project Honor is the impetus for other changes on the headquarters campus. Most notably, the new building will anchor an area envisioned as a town square within the company. It will encompass the companys cafeteria, and other services. Noted Johnson, I see this as a gathering place, a location where the people of SC Johnson will take time out of their day, and spend time together.
Johnsons early vision of sharing this treasured jewel with Racine will be developed by a talented, innovative architectural team. World-renowned architect Lord Norman Foster and his firm, London-based Foster and Partners, will design the building. Among Foster and Partners works are the new German Parliament in the Reichstag in Berlin, the Hearst Building in New York, the Great Court at the British Museum in London, the Boston Museum of Fine Arts and the new Beijing International Airport.
Foster and Partners was selected at the conclusion of an exhaustive search conducted by SC Johnson, which included criteria for sustainable design, innovation and integrating new works with architecturally significant buildings.
Seventy years ago, my grandfather commissioned Frank Lloyd Wright to design the Administration Building that became an icon. Now, as we plan a new building, we have great confidence in this team, who shares the companys commitment to innovative design and creativity, said Johnson.
I consider it a real privilege to be given this opportunity to work with an enlightened client, on a fascinating project, next to one of the 20th Centurys seminal buildings, to provide SC Johnson with a new social heart for their headquarters in Racine, said Lord Foster of Thames Bank O.M.
The company anticipates that the project will generate approximately 100-200 construction jobs and is committed to seeking approximately 15% minority participation and approximately 30% local participation. The ground breaking is scheduled for Spring 2007 with an anticipated completion date of late Fall 2008.
SC Johnson is a family-owned and managed business dedicated to innovative, high-quality products, excellence in the workplace and a long-term commitment to the environment and the communities in which it operates. Based in the USA, the company is one of the world's leading manufacturers of household cleaning products and products for home storage, air care, personal care and insect control. It markets such well-known brands as EDGE®, GLADE®, OFF!®, PLEDGE®, RAID®, SCRUBBING BUBBLES®, SHOUT®, WINDEX® and ZIPLOC® in the U.S. and beyond, with brands marketed outside the U.S. including AUTAN®, BAYGON®, BRISE®, ECHO®, KABIKILLER®, KLEAR®, and MR. MUSCLE®. The 120-year old company, nearly $7 billion in sales, employs approximately 12,000 people globally and sells products in more than 110 countries.
For additional information, please visit www.scjohnson.com
