Previews have begun of the upcoming Obama Presidential Center at 6001 South Stony Island Avenue within Jackson Park. Set to open this upcoming Juneteenth holiday, June 19, work across the multi-use campus continues as the team tests the facilities and puts the finishing touches on all four main structures developed by the Obama Foundation.
View of Obama Center museum by Ian Achong
View of Obama Center museum by Ian Achong
The center has been around 12 years in the making, facing a strenuous site selection process which came down to one site in nearby Washington Park and its final location just east, replacing a football field and adjacent parkland. This led to a years-long lawsuit with Protect Our Parks over the land use, similar to that of the Lucas Museum, which opens this year in Los Angeles.
View of Obama Center playground by Ian Achong
View of Obama Center statue by Ian Achong
However, the case was dismissed and the center was able to proceed with construction on the campus designed by Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects. Unlike other presidential libraries, the Obama Center will keep its collection off-site and accessible digitally, allowing the campus to feature a larger program centered around serving the local community.
View of Obama Center museum by Ian Achong
The main active spaces center around a new entry plaza which will be open every day until 9:00 p.m. This art- and tree-filled space connects to a new Chicago Public Library branch to the south. This small outpost features a main reading room, a maker space, a small meeting area, a courtyard, and the President’s Reading Room, featuring books from the Obamas’ collection.
View of CPL Obama Center branch by Ian Achong
View of CPL Obama Center branch by Ian Achong
On the east side of the plaza is a building known as The Forum. Inside is a new restaurant space with an open kitchen and outdoor rear patio, a coat check, meeting rooms, and a 300-seat auditorium. This structure is connected to the museum via the basement level, which holds the museum’s cafe and gift shop, illuminated by large sunken courtyards with sculptures.
View of The Forum by Ian Achong
View of The Forum restaurant by Ian Achong
Finally, to the north is the 225-foot-tall museum tower, fully clad in granite and inspired by the form of four hands coming together. Experienced in chronological order, the museum covers over 100 years of American history through both of the president’s terms across the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th floors. Restrooms are available on mezzanine levels between each one.
View of The Forum auditorium by Ian Achong
View of Obama Center museum and Forum by Ian Achong
Cutting through the exhibition floors on the northeast corner is a massive atrium that ties the museum together. Here, a projection show cycles through art, national history, and moments from the president’s career. Highlights include historical artifacts, items from Obama’s career in Illinois and Chicago, original copies of laws, and a recreation of the Oval Office.
View of Obama Center museum by Ian Achong
View of museum exhibits by Ian Achong
The next two floors are closed to guests and feature space for museum staff. The eighth and final floor features a multi-height observation deck with views across Jackson Park and the South Side, behind massive exterior letters on the facade from Obama’s 2015 Selma speech. Visits end with an elevator ride down to the basement and the aforementioned gift shop and cafe.
View of museum exhibits by Ian Achong
View of museum exhibits by Ian Achong
Visitors will be able to park at a large garage connected to the public library, with all of the structures capped by a large green roof featuring a vegetable garden, massive playground, gardens, lawn, and even sitting areas with grills. On the south end of the site is the Home Court athletic facility with a full-size basketball court and various spaces for nearby schools.
Skyline view from observatory by Ian Achong
View of observatory by Ian Achong
The $850 million development expands on what the city has long considered Museum Campus South, joining the Museum of Science and Industry, DuSable Museum, and various University of Chicago museums. Various hotels and residential buildings have been proposed nearby as the center expects one million annual visitors, or around 2,700 per day.
View of observatory by Rachel Wiesbrock
View from observatory by Ian Achong
The museum alone will be open from 1:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Mondays, and from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on the remaining days. General admission costs around $30, with a discount for Illinois residents and free days for locals every Tuesday.
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This project is getting lots of hate, especially from the right-leaning side of the country (obviously). I’m not personally amazed by it as it does appear a bit akwward and not people-friendly; however, I wouldn’t characterize it as “ugly” by any means.
The greatest value of the Obama Presidential Library is, in my opinion, its recognizability and boldness in expression. It has already gained tremendous national attention and it will certainly bring plenty of new tourists to Chicago. Not to mention the value this complex is about to bring to the local community.
The granite looks decent up front, but from a distance, it looks like a brutalist design. It looks pretty cool inside, but I wish the outside could’ve been better looking or maybe a better shape or something.
NY Times had a great review of this project. The interiors are beautifully designed and detailed and the park space is really excellent. Unfortunately, the main building is just too massive and stark and the letter wall is indecipherable. I’m sure people who actually visit will have a great time, its just not a particularly attractive building.
Lawsuit dismissed for this in the middle of actual park but not for architecturally beautiful Lucas museum instead of parking lots. Something that would actually bring a ton of tourists and enhance our skyline. I see. Interesting how it works.
Gonna pout about another building getting built? Your comment was comedy gold.
Dismissed after about 4 years if I’m remembering correctly. Lucas wasn’t as patient.
I would have preferred something that was less park-like and more of something that fit into the grid of the city.