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John Deere's World Headquarters was the first use of Cor-ten in an architectural application.

Building Material

Deere & Company's World Headquarters was the first use of Cor-ten in an architectural application.

Developed for railroad track construction and other structural applications like bridges, Deere & Company's World Headquarters was the first use of Cor-ten in an architectural application.

Cor-ten® is U.S. Steel's trade name for a corrosion-resistant, or weathering, steel that forms a protective coating of iron oxide when exposed to the atmosphere. This rust layer becomes protective when fine crystals of early rust recrystalize to form a dense barrier that retards further corrosion. In contrast, other steels tend to form a layer of oxidation that is porous, flaky and penetrable by the elements.