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:
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:
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
Northern Illinois University, is a public university and research institution located in DeKalb. It is the second largest institution of higher education in the state of Illinois in terms of enrollment. A satellite campus is located in Naperville.
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.
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
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.
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