Region of commerce and industry along Interstate 88 in the Chicago metropolitan area
The Illinois Technology and Research Corridor in the
Chicago metropolitan area
The Illinois Technology and Research Corridor is a region of commerce and industry located along
Interstate 88 in the
Chicago metropolitan area , primarily in
Cook ,
DuPage ,
Kane , and
DeKalb Counties . The corridor is home to the headquarters or regional centers for many Fortune 1000 companies (including many specializing in research, development, logistics, and technology), several office and industrial parks, colleges and universities, research and scientific institutions, medical centers, government centers, and abundant shopping, dining, lodging, and entertainment amenities. In addition to the I-90
Golden Corridor , the I-94
Lakeshore Corridor , and the I-55 Industrial Corridor, the Illinois Technology and Research Corridor is one of the principal economic centers in suburban Chicago.
History
The first companies that formed the Illinois Technology and Research Corridor began locating in
Naperville in the 1960s. In 1962, Northern Illinois Gas (now
Nicor ) moved its research and administrative facilities to Naperville in 1962, followed by
Bell Laboratories (1964), and the Amoco Research Center (now
BP ) in 1969.
[1]
In Batavia,
Fermilab was established as the National Accelerator Laboratory in 1967, with its particle accelerator becoming operational in 1972.
[2]
The Corridor Group was formed in 1982, with representation by over 80 high technology companies, national labs, associated industries, and colleges and universities.
[3]
Cities and villages
Cities and villages located partially or wholly within the scope of the Illinois Technology and Research Corridor include:
Companies
The
Oak Brook Terrace Tower, which contains nearly 800,000 square feet of office space and houses several companies, is the tallest building in suburban Chicago, standing at 418 feet (31 stories).
Major companies with a strong presence in the Illinois Technology and Research Corridor include:
Ace Hardware , a hardware store chain headquartered in
Oak Brook
Acxiom ,
[4] in
Downers Grove , is a customer and data information management company
Aldi , a grocery store chain with US headquarters in
Batavia
APL Logistics , a freight transportation company with offices in
Oak Brook
Blistex, Incorporated , a personal care products company headquartered in
Oak Brook
BP , an international energy company with its
North American chemicals headquarters and research facilities in
Naperville
Calamos , an asset management firm headquartered in
Naperville
Caterpillar , a construction equipment manufacturer with a plant in
Montgomery
ConAgra Foods , a packaged foods company with offices in
Naperville
Coskata, Inc. , an energy research company headquartered in
Warrenville
Crowe LLP , a public accounting, consulting, and technology firm headquartered in
Oakbrook Terrace
Dover Corporation , a manufacturer of specialized industrial products and equipment headquartered in
Downers Grove
Eby-Brown , a wholesale distributor headquartered in
Naperville
Exelon , a Fortune 100 energy company, has its Exelon Nuclear headquarters in
Warrenville and offices for
ComEd in
Oakbrook Terrace
[5]
Farm Progress , an agricultural publication publisher headquartered in
St. Charles
FGI Universal LLC, the largest frozen produce importer in the USA in
Naperville
First Alert , a safety products company headquartered in
Aurora
Follett Corporation , Bookseller, E-Commerce and software company in
Westchester
Hyundai , a motor vehicle company with regional offices in
Aurora
Joint Commission , health institution or program accreditation agency headquartered in
Oakbrook Terrace
MetLife , an insurance company with offices in
Aurora
Microsoft a computer technology company with offices in
Downers Grove
Mitutoyo , a company specializing in measuring instruments and metrological technology with U.S. headquarters in
Aurora
Molex , an electronic components manufacturer headquartered in
Lisle
Nalco , a water treatment and chemical company headquartered in
Naperville
Navistar , an automotive manufacturer headquartered in
Lisle
Nicor , a gas utility company headquartered in
Naperville
Nissan Motors , an automotive manufacturer with offices in
Aurora and
Naperville
Nokia , an international telecommunications company, with offices in
Naperville and
Lisle .
Oberweis Dairy , a dairy products company headquartered in
North Aurora
Portillo's Restaurants , a restaurant chain headquartered in
Oakbrook Terrace
Redbox , a media rental company headquartered in
Oakbrook Terrace
Sanford L.P. , a writing products manufacturer headquartered in
Oak Brook
SAP America , the Americas' subsidiary of
SAP AG , the world's largest business software company with offices in
Downers Grove .
Sara Lee , a food company headquartered in
Downers Grove
Smithfield Foods , a meat products manufacturer with subsidiary Armour-Eckrich Meats headquartered in
Lisle and a processing facility in
St. Charles
Sunshine Biscuits , a cracker, cookie, and cereal manufacturer headquartered in
Elmhurst
Tellabs , a telecommunications company headquartered in
Naperville
Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. , an automobile manufacturer with regional offices in
Aurora and
Naperville
VVF, a personal care products manufacturer with a plant in
Montgomery
Westell , a modems manufacturer headquartered in
Aurora
Higher education institutions
Altgeld Hall, a landmark building at
DeKalb 's
Northern Illinois University , the second-largest institution of higher education in the state of Illinois
Research institutions
Fermilab, Batavia
Argonne National Laboratory , on 1,700 acres (7 km2 ) in
Lemont , is the oldest national research institution in the United States, chartered in 1946. The only multipurpose national laboratory in the Midwest, Argonne manages and operates a range of scientific user facilities, including the
Advanced Photon Source , the
Center for Nanoscale Materials and the
Argonne Leadership Computing Facility . Argonne's annual budget is $650 million and employs 3,500 people. It is owned by the
Department of Energy and operated by UChicago Argonne LLC.
Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory , on 6,800 acres (28 km2 ) in
Batavia , was commissioned on November 21, 1967 by the
U.S. Atomic Energy Commission . It is home to the world's former highest energy
particle accelerator ,
Tevatron . The accelerator was built in 1983 at a cost of $120 million, and was upgraded in 1994 at a cost of $290 million. It employs 2,100 people.
Medical centers
Rush-Copley Medical Center in Aurora
Adventist GlenOaks Hospital, in
Glendale Heights
Adventist Hinsdale Hospital, in
Hinsdale
Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital , in
Downers Grove
Central DuPage Hospital , in
Winfield
Delnor Community Hospital, in
Geneva
Edward Hospital , in
Naperville
Elmhurst Memorial Hospital, in
Elmhurst
Kishwaukee Community Hospital, in
DeKalb
Provena Mercy Medical Center, in
Aurora
Rush-Copley Medical Center , in
Aurora
The DeKalb County Courthouse, in Sycamore
Government centers
DeKalb County Government Center and Courthouse, located in
Sycamore
DuPage County Government Center, Judicial Center, and Fairgrounds, located in
Wheaton
Kane County Government Center and Courthouse, located in
Geneva
Kane County Judicial Center and Fairgrounds, located in
St. Charles
Shopping centers
Westfield Fox Valley, a regional enclosed shopping mall in Aurora.
Cantera, an open-air shopping, dining, and entertainment complex located in
Warrenville
Chicago Premium Outlets, an outlet mall located in
Aurora
Geneva Commons , an upscale, open-air lifestyle center located in
Geneva
Oakbrook Center , a regional upscale, open-air shopping mall located in
Oak Brook . It is the largest open-air shopping center in the contiguous United States.
Town Square Wheaton, an upscale open-air shopping center located in
Wheaton
Westfield Fox Valley , a regional enclosed shopping mall located in
Aurora
Yorktown Center , a regional enclosed shopping mall located in
Lombard
Points of interest
The
Arcada Theater building in downtown
St. Charles
A view of the Naperville Riverwalk area and Moser Tower in downtown
Naperville
The Air Classics Museum, an aviation museum at
Aurora Municipal Airport in
Sugar Grove
The
Arcada Theater , a historic theater in downtown
St. Charles
Blackberry Farm, a historical farmstead in
Aurora
Cantigny , a large park with historical museums and gardens, in
Wheaton
The
Convocation Center , a 10,000-seat arena on the campus of
Northern Illinois University in
DeKalb
Drury Lane Theatre , a theater and dining center in
Oakbrook Terrace
The DuPage Children's Museum, a museum and interactive learning center in downtown
Naperville
The
Egyptian Theatre , a historic theater in downtown
DeKalb
Elfstrom Stadium , a minor league ballpark, home to the
Kane County Cougars , located in
Geneva
The
Ellwood House , a historical museum in
DeKalb
The
Glidden House , a historical museum in
DeKalb
The
Grand Theatre , a historical theater in downtown
Wheaton
The
Gurler House , a historical museum in
DeKalb
Hollywood Casino, a casino in downtown
Aurora
Huskie Stadium , a 30,000-seat football stadium located on the campus of
Northern Illinois University in
DeKalb
Morton Arboretum , a botanical garden located in
Lisle
The Naperville Riverwalk, a riverwalk and park located in downtown
Naperville along the
DuPage River . The area is also home to the Centennial Beach recreational area and the iconic Moser Tower
Oakbrook Terrace Tower, a 31-story office building located in
Oakbrook Terrace . It is the tallest building in suburban Chicago.
The
Paramount Theatre , a historic theater located in downtown
Aurora
Pheasant Run and the Q Center, convention centers located in
St. Charles
Phillips Park Zoo , a zoological park featuring native species located in
Aurora
The Tivoli Theatre, a historic theater in downtown
Downers Grove
Two Brothers Roundhouse , a historic roundhouse, museum, and dining center located in downtown
Aurora
See also
References
Major city Cities (over 30,000 in
2010 ) Towns and villages (over 30,000 in
2010 ) Counties Regions Sub-regions
41°50′N 88°30′W / 41.833°N 88.500°W / 41.833; -88.500