I posted this over at
SSC. Not new development, but worth sharing:
Another building that was sadly lost, and a great example of mid-century modern Architecture in the Kalamazoo area (and in my humble opinion, anywhere in the world) was the Upjohn Company's Headquarters / Building 88. It was designed by SOM, with Sasaki Associates doing the landscape design. Construction began in 1959 and it opened in 1961. It was 300,000 SF across 2 stories, and housed over 500 administrative employees at its peak. It was tragically demolished by Pfizer, the Pharmaceutical giant of a company that bought out Upjohn, in 2007, claiming it was expensive to maintain and no longer necessary to the operations of the company. It had many innovative features, including 9 separate courtyard spaces, all uniquely landscaped, escalators that turned on automatically when you approached them, underground VIP parking with all marble finishes...
Some design renderings, by SOM:
![](https://hqytvg-dm2305.files.1drv.com/y4mwcTDKezcEQ5Z6ZCBd0pwd1wxGixKLUqvH5oZa1fm_OXcZhGJqsUejnvUfkQsNO8q7tdmk5nE75w9lfu--Yl6hamv0pOByyqJoMVjyua8q0v0VXIcTeC_86H3jfS5isqQlGaJ2NRNXUQ-kudjDXIo5URpZAFR1m_De8wFwn0jEJfb_jqFXDWpX4vs6XYfUwmmYNkbuZ2b0BErN-BuW4HUhw?width=1024&height=430&cropmode=none)
Source:
Upjohn.net
![](https://g6ytvg-dm2305.files.1drv.com/y4mLeGcTDBwIwcTT47v7dBo72ypt2gG_CkMYKnoiBaelJXu6mAW2q08eP0VSy6m5iAeMrI_SvynTPAEwh9b5-36mWEe5Ufxdd0OlG5TzkeJbSiqV8Anpi9fyy5EfsqpNDMcYqiHtL92ws-3KbnAqNNouHPn0aPjBQU-K3Fd0CoT4AvoR_pgqd3zJ1mufTDg3a9GEawGCh_zKzbwpgLb2Ja3hg?width=1024&height=929&cropmode=none)
Source:
Upjohn.net
Site plan, by Sasaki:
![](https://gkytvg-dm2305.files.1drv.com/y4mJLtmg9DW9mN7pBFL8rUBwTYJcQeKmVb9UpY1_Qd7yB8GcJkWr7tS5Xfq_vca8b8-oBYLkw4F8dvO39ibTCrPQD-HLFKI8wp1aswS9aa9gUj0ew-ul8o8fwmgWBBPsYXVi97xZU-geLoZFVTodkibBApbWpAIU2L-r4n99ifVbSJlaaUkLJCxFhE2EbRXE-FhfFWXaVjotU7AzVzMFhE9yg?width=1024&height=718&cropmode=none)
Source:
sasaki.com
Under construction - you can see the pyramid ceiling which is integrated with the structure. Over 4,000 pyramids comprised the finished ceilings:
![](https://gqz44q-dm2305.files.1drv.com/y4mU7uDGUupZqg5yU_Ad5pJhXIbfIbBCC3bsOvSjuGAc24kNdWqdjIQLmeNdzDliKMTMPQsMnWuKRDjm0fROKMcADErxOMCgA_8_0bKQuQH0SAoER-YJ0mP00P43qBVccaY3GIo8yv1Ju9fn6zPY7W5o_tOEb52zq74O97CQl7OOPY2Q0-S_6wkkl_x1PCNf1LzO-ZDpWmJJ3G6HNCqeknZ3A?width=1024&height=812&cropmode=none)
Source:
Upjohn.net
![](https://eqytvg-dm2305.files.1drv.com/y4m2Ty7dfFxAtAPr9futSCYgWmcvai9ZDgYmUL84eLwRhVoyZ6QjxJlgz2y_9KSytilqdqiU50g0yUqshbXNHoppTZyJIO9m6j37mLXv5pkVk1zNxWzbvXMNJUDd4MA5YV8sv850bVDo6vE4q1yuJtSRpin7gojWW__x8nEX3xwC03FXbUiIZuWT6d5WDep5J1Eyz5YJjg3_UXei3MEh90F3A?width=1024&height=811&cropmode=none)
Source:
Upjohn.net
Under construction - concrete wall with stone finish:
![](https://f6z44q-dm2305.files.1drv.com/y4mOSDdvei2MqluVuBUH3yIpBSn7pKKOMARAUPfFq8fCFingxYEyhx67s8e_7ytsxrTitOF4O8VMfQfT2QSl0rwII4IyTQWG63i0At1Nf8Botij-6zchBmijoQRhRb9cC2bE0Se8YlWUo8XMRma5_Yj5x63q7V4KvtOezK9v_09qrNgXEb9ff32aWQEDW2Q4D7hlV5_H4LiSskz1EHY8URrtA?width=1024&height=812&cropmode=none)
Source:
Upjohn.net
Under construction - in the main courtyard:
![](https://gaz44q-dm2305.files.1drv.com/y4m7_RilDH6PykSqMS9tFrReQxQ0xQfh-0Huzhb3z8oETbFcKOpZLsPhMhoW7z80pTuBJk5YR-4Lgq40m_i0jOdvf4-7XxJY4NMN04zjXV19ci-KLVp_zZUkqSbXQvgV6nOZjFKD9y0kgUeKO2akCXqTEaIvbAlF2nhu9BlnCj2aNhrGk1lPLsBOp7MFJJPzA9Wrt5DJnc_EXDlWRKMmfI2xg?width=1024&height=812&cropmode=none)
Source:
Upjohn.net
Under construction - nearing completion:
![](https://hkytvg-dm2305.files.1drv.com/y4mX_9KBxzcCrFD9nXUDxtpGdMhdkiw4T1FkPry3PeSQ4EIR1LPcXA-yMAr6p3ahzZKkCubEH-wUCPf7_bBRsYXbWKNK0-DHcOU22SZBw7j9PJ2FLds8RPFMcy24rtnL3nFVZSl3xijQDNDrgt8HP-cIMvDmiSEAIh-SUSsnwCrP6LhLOcG22wheH7pbexkHU2gHwfc0DEOH3TD1S39ZhqI_g?width=1024&height=813&cropmode=none)
Source:
Upjohn.net
Sasaki STILL has amazing photographs (by Ezra Stoller) of this building on their website:
Main courtyard, after completion:
![](https://gaytvg-dm2305.files.1drv.com/y4mDIzPtQTyiT-iQltip3pB4xLX4S2AYq1zbg2_LdMHtvGt12PT9lb232LaQfFVFdd-XNa2Ak0UlOKobvNxtewks7Q48RBPYuaD6OvXiA2CMfV9WEZ3enbwiyTa5x_XIxN7oAmO53hjeu3hoQlF9mWJQ7tbCtus1JP6q11rFvwXTyhY0ZNGj4drPW3CqeJZfbISD1gWB0NFA2oMlnIhi2hhhg?width=1024&height=792&cropmode=none)
Source:
sasaki.com
Looking west across pond towards the main production facilities (across Portage Road from the HQ):
![](https://f6ytvg-dm2305.files.1drv.com/y4mY4UknXWoll-zYwEF25C9XH8b_0gxLJk3zW4RYnd_8cpSty8uq15UDkw1kRNd0m4qjAAv8l8i6c6N-B8mpoJBEIxZmWIrfNIItrO-fUPkYOXJq12LscUqYsNW_nw2wdJZQYwKVq41EhvBXhnD5Wgk3d46eIaFplkWwuv6gMP11SxkqnpTWG0pp3kFaEVtczg7-H2HBbN6bsfAD5m5309lXw?width=1024&height=719&cropmode=none)
Source:
sasaki.com
Looking the other way, towards the front of the building:
![](https://gqytvg-dm2305.files.1drv.com/y4m-110a4laZnJQ_mYbBWewBz65MBUpN1D0YEvK_Jt2QAIFDhk6t4pcNKx0Gn0pOvCizix0OWXfd9N_rGiJqgXx3-SAa2U1Gbim-l4O5L2VLN9Q0dGbEQfzbMEyoGL0bwJDTk6SaUohzj1-GD_ypoFbaIBEHLgElrES13h-q0MV9SWAstPF5mPhaWVF8Hc_XiIUPL7s9YZ9SqacuB7ySS6KwA?width=1024&height=579&cropmode=none)
Source:
sasaki.com
Here's some more completed photos, all found on
Upjohn.net:
View from front carport entry, with all-marble finishes:
Board Room:
Conference / meeting room:
Workspace view and servery scene:
General dining room:
Executive dining room:
An executive's office:
Employee Rec room:
Small courtyard, by night:
Another small courtyard view:
Walt Disney was friends with Don Gilmore, former president of Upjohn. He would show up occasionally on the site:
![](https://eaytvg-dm2305.files.1drv.com/y4m6JCBNgMbIOjCQ8pUDg14RWsadV5EjSXTtkVE2jMb0iDNmiBlnpGWSYjbWbv478i_jpWL3pheFbMszVJ3rb_Nayi9msiwgQ7UaIgSDK1BRltk0FgKjCmGOdZjyW5w7fYbF6OihdgW35pyaLd_743aVmhwskCqi2ItUkjHcsVqbQr99FrIlCiiS6ea26t-qJbCrsU3HEAlOAkNagVoWizBtg?width=1024&height=763&cropmode=none)
Source:
findingwalt.com
Aerial view in 2006, shortly before demolition in 2007:
![](https://haytvg-dm2305.files.1drv.com/y4m52VKgpM0uKR8-lLpHpxXTbfIIjaMFk2_sYjDDEvFE_wi8lcTD_M7veGNDDMwQDCuE1i2h1HqfuTdgK7auvx-VI82EHbuTspX0M2xcaTT1EN9sU4ddxfqZ9t3HqDhXGUVRSj8MhOmcNylXAP_NLvwT5KA7eHNgw8KxJUIcljcxsdOKBRvct3DG8rx9oHloKZynItfpDpSkIzIWQcPECnfTA?width=1024&height=630&cropmode=none)
Source:
findingwalt.com"]findingwalt.com
Photos from right before / during demolition activies:
![](https://hazjpw-dm2305.files.1drv.com/y4m6X_HWGONksD18vCwUQeJlH-wdRbpnzeyMrxFyxWDvOhBBQ0dob0zh11-OVyHMOdc55tFCBNopnxHBNN_STs45eg7Nvw8Qu41foq_NuzvQneicwg_YVUa_zuGOVdyHMdWAGtLCrzqBR247NGOl8MPzpOxC37kbBlop6gk-fFZQqQo0H4w28ZaxIgfBQ2x01AARNCcd6KTYHSG63dGkbjPqg?width=1024&height=759&cropmode=none)
Source:
Dusty Sexton | flikr.com
![](https://hqzjpw-dm2305.files.1drv.com/y4m-7tOjgfNC542h6Qs15PPjS-tc-DW6DVzvV7ikLBwAv9UQbrkuVLPMV9GoCB6TpavIWS0UFB9y6hsgaA6NftMSjzv--rOMgWw66cFXUodOIoNQLKchqV5h6Xw5uXnKlWmFphTxeF4MBLmdZXHnMZotsswXS68cAQXrwr_thyX2KfSMtk22bwGHviO9TFZUuXSXKqCs3ALH8T0VCzRf0AuGQ?width=1024&height=770&cropmode=none)
Source:
Dusty Sexton | flikr.com
![](https://gkzjpw-dm2305.files.1drv.com/y4mGwqDWzc1cC4NI3IZJNluNuM806AOayzYZHmKDVcAF93o6As50reNz5wpb1TkzUUsDbc5XPz1A8R8VsFZCGgAiNCxBnUOO2EeENlWiGGIqyrFou7gkJKJiOj0x2LQr9tQwq5ctW4f9l--Ggr2e19SOYYEIVj-suopHuxMe-RPYwBw-8jXldOsc4vfQTzv_L7lSlINb2DUtSdtmhZmJs2Rgw?width=1024&height=764&cropmode=none)
Source:
Dusty Sexton | flikr.com
Today, it's all just an empty, grassy field.
Anyway, hope that was interesting for you. If there's one building that I could bring back from the dead in Kalamazoo / Portage, this would be it. There are plenty more photos, news articles, etc. on
Memories of the Upjohn Company (
Upjohn.net), if anyone is interested.