Works of art

The Art Institute’s new wing isn’t the only modern monolith making headlines. In March, the Serta headquarters in Hoffman Estates opened to rave architecture reviews. If you make the haul to see the new, Miesian masterpiece, it’s worth the hike north or west to a few other bedroom communities to take a gander at these often overlooked edifices.

Shure Inc. Headquarters (formerly HA-LO)
5800 W Touhy Ave, Niles
DESIGNED BY Murphy/Jahn; addition by Krueck + Sexton
YEAR 2000
Niles’s shabby suburban streets give way to Jahn’s steel-and-glass stunner: Seven stories include a full-height atrium with glass elevators; it’s a building seemingly meant for someplace more exciting, like Berlin—where Jahn’s famous Sony Center is located. The soft-glazed glass of the 2004 Technical Center addition nicely complements the original building’s intensity. Built by local architects Krueck & Sexton, it tests the microphone makers’ audio products.

Crate & Barrel Headquarters
1250 Techny Road, Northbrook
DESIGNED BY Ralph Johnson of Perkins & Will
YEAR 2002
You might recall the lesser-known architect from his O’Hare International terminal and West Loop Skybridge. Furthermore, someone’s been looking at him: The AIC’s “Flying Carpet” bears an uncanny resemblance to Johnson’s signature white trellis—an aesthetic carried out in several Crate & Barrel stores. Well, we can guess where Renzo Piano buys his throw pillows.

Sara Lee Building
2500 Lacey Rd, Downers Grove
DESIGNED BY Skidmore, Owings and Merrill
YEAR 1992
The street view of the linear front side hides a lusciously curved back spanned by glass. Pastoral landscaping includes a moat, an island reachable via stepping stones, and swans. Yes, swans. All we need to complete our childhood fantasy is cake. Oh, wait.

Oakbrook Terrace Tower
1 Tower Ln, Villa Park
DESIGNED BY Murphy/Jahn
YEAR 1986
Boasting unimpeded views galore, the 31-floor octagonal beast holds the title of the ’burbs’ tallest. Bonus: The top four floors offer 16 corners—so at least 64 corporate honchos can pat themselves on the back for landing the corner office.

Metro West (formerly Two Energy Center)
55 E Shuman Dr, Naperville
DESIGNED BY Murphy/Jahn
YEAR 1986
Some say the N-shaped line in this building stands for Naperville. Whatever was on Jahn’s mind, it’s a little more practical than some of his more exhuberant edifices.

Serta International Center
2600 Forbs Ave, Hoffman Estates
DESIGNED BY Andrew Metter of Epstein
YEAR 2009
In contrast to its mediocre neighbors—clunky, square (and pink; thanks, Mary Kay HQ)—this long sliver of a building seems to float on its prairie setting. The mattress showplace, factory and office—with natural light and windows that [gasp] open up—looks so serene, it makes you want to take a nap. Guess Metter was right on the money.

More Museums & Culture