[ "CHICAGO (AP) — The granite monolith that crowns the Obama Presidential Center now looms above a stretch of leafy South Side trees, its nearly windowless façade looking more like a sci‑fi set than a modern museum. As the campus—worth about $850 million and featuring a 225‑foot high tower—finalizes its finishes, the debate over its architectural style and its impact on the surrounding park refuses to die.", "For some, the towering look feels jarring in Barack Obama’s hometown after a decade‑long spat over its location in a lakefront park that previously housed more classical structures. Others argue it’s a bold new addition that will shape Chicago’s skyline in the decades to come. Residents have likened the building to a grain elevator, a “Star Wars” ship, and even a mausoleum.", "“These buildings are part of our everyday experience,” said Brenda Nelms, a longtime resident and leader of a block‑wide advocacy group for Jackson Park. “It doesn’t fit in at all.”
Despite the controversy, the Obama Institute has quietly pressed ahead. In an effort to attract visitors, the foundation enlisted actor Mark Hamill for promotional videos on May 4‑th, a day celebrated by fans of the “Star Wars” franchise.", "“Part of the joy of the center is everyone is going to have their unique experience,” said Valerie Jarrett, CEO of the Obama Foundation and former Obama adviser. “The design of the building was intended to be inviting and open to people whether they live across the street or around the world.”", "HEADLINE: Chicago’s architecture is ‘spectator sport’", "The city’s high standards for buildings run from Louis Sullivan’s 19th‑century skyscrapers to Helmut Jahn’s post‑modern towers. In Chicago, architecture is truly spectator sport—and the Obama Presidential Center is no exception. Sun‑Times architecture critic Lee Bey declared the museum lines up more with a cemetery than a civic center. The building’s few windows are carefully placed to protect its interiors—including an Oval Office replica—from harsh sunlight.", "Bey said the museum’s design made more sense in the context of the other low‑lying buildings that will sit on the complex, from a basketball court and playground to a public library branch and various works of prominent artists across the city.", "“As we begin to experience buildings, we begin to imprint our own impressions,” Bey replied. “The John Hancock becomes less of an oil derrick and more of the building that has your doctor’s office.”", "Edward Keegan, a Chicago Tribune architecture columnist, called the museum “an un‑Chicago building” because of its lack of windows and unusual shape. Still, he said it offers a fresh perspective of the city. The building’s glass‑enclosed Sky Room boasts panoramic, north‑facing views that are rare from that height.", "After decades of legal wrangles, some fear what lies ahead for the park and its residents. The path to the center was bumpy from the day its location was chosen in 2015. Lawsuits to halt construction arose as concerns mounted about the displacement of low‑income and Black residents who live near the proposed site.", "Community groups lobbied for housing‑protection provisions, yet many of those advocating said the area’s property values have surged, outpacing the promised safeguards. The museum’s footprint cuts through nearly 20 acres of park country and a major thoroughfare, upsetting residents who say that roadway is vital to connect them with downtown and the suburbs.", "On a recent walk through a local bird sanctuary, 82‑year‑old activist Robin Kaufman admitted she could no longer enjoy the wildflowers by the ponds she cherished. The tower’s silhouette now looms over the trees, a reminder that the site’s development is real and immediate. “Everywhere I go, you can see it, so you’re reminded of what’s going on and that’s distressing,” she told me. “I’m very distrustful of anything they say.”", "Shannon Bennett, a spokeswoman for the Kenwood‑Oakland Community Organization, warned of a “Trojan horse” in the center’s construction—an extreme example of the city’s push to transform these neighborhoods for a different demographic.", "Despite the contention, former Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett argues the benefits far outweigh the costs. The centerpiece—a stone tower with a 225‑foot high rise that wraps around a 5‑foot concrete designation reading “You are America” from the 2015 Selma‑to‑Montgomery speech—was chosen to represent solidarity.", "“The benefit of having this extraordinary facility far outweighs any costs,” Jarrett said. “It’s a symbol to the community of how important they are to us.”", "Adam Rubin at the Chicago Architecture Center lauded the project’s progress but noted lingering questions about the trade‑off that occurred: trading park acres for a museum. “It really does have a sense of place,” Rubin said. “Time will tell how people will use it.”" ]
Despite the controversy, the Obama Institute has quietly pressed ahead. In an effort to attract visitors, the foundation enlisted actor Mark Hamill for promotional videos on May 4‑th, a day celebrated by fans of the “Star Wars” franchise.", "“Part of the joy of the center is everyone is going to have their unique experience,” said Valerie Jarrett, CEO of the Obama Foundation and former Obama adviser. “The design of the building was intended to be inviting and open to people whether they live across the street or around the world.”", "HEADLINE: Chicago’s architecture is ‘spectator sport’", "The city’s high standards for buildings run from Louis Sullivan’s 19th‑century skyscrapers to Helmut Jahn’s post‑modern towers. In Chicago, architecture is truly spectator sport—and the Obama Presidential Center is no exception. Sun‑Times architecture critic Lee Bey declared the museum lines up more with a cemetery than a civic center. The building’s few windows are carefully placed to protect its interiors—including an Oval Office replica—from harsh sunlight.", "Bey said the museum’s design made more sense in the context of the other low‑lying buildings that will sit on the complex, from a basketball court and playground to a public library branch and various works of prominent artists across the city.", "“As we begin to experience buildings, we begin to imprint our own impressions,” Bey replied. “The John Hancock becomes less of an oil derrick and more of the building that has your doctor’s office.”", "Edward Keegan, a Chicago Tribune architecture columnist, called the museum “an un‑Chicago building” because of its lack of windows and unusual shape. Still, he said it offers a fresh perspective of the city. The building’s glass‑enclosed Sky Room boasts panoramic, north‑facing views that are rare from that height.", "After decades of legal wrangles, some fear what lies ahead for the park and its residents. The path to the center was bumpy from the day its location was chosen in 2015. Lawsuits to halt construction arose as concerns mounted about the displacement of low‑income and Black residents who live near the proposed site.", "Community groups lobbied for housing‑protection provisions, yet many of those advocating said the area’s property values have surged, outpacing the promised safeguards. The museum’s footprint cuts through nearly 20 acres of park country and a major thoroughfare, upsetting residents who say that roadway is vital to connect them with downtown and the suburbs.", "On a recent walk through a local bird sanctuary, 82‑year‑old activist Robin Kaufman admitted she could no longer enjoy the wildflowers by the ponds she cherished. The tower’s silhouette now looms over the trees, a reminder that the site’s development is real and immediate. “Everywhere I go, you can see it, so you’re reminded of what’s going on and that’s distressing,” she told me. “I’m very distrustful of anything they say.”", "Shannon Bennett, a spokeswoman for the Kenwood‑Oakland Community Organization, warned of a “Trojan horse” in the center’s construction—an extreme example of the city’s push to transform these neighborhoods for a different demographic.", "Despite the contention, former Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett argues the benefits far outweigh the costs. The centerpiece—a stone tower with a 225‑foot high rise that wraps around a 5‑foot concrete designation reading “You are America” from the 2015 Selma‑to‑Montgomery speech—was chosen to represent solidarity.", "“The benefit of having this extraordinary facility far outweighs any costs,” Jarrett said. “It’s a symbol to the community of how important they are to us.”", "Adam Rubin at the Chicago Architecture Center lauded the project’s progress but noted lingering questions about the trade‑off that occurred: trading park acres for a museum. “It really does have a sense of place,” Rubin said. “Time will tell how people will use it.”" ]
