The new Obama Presidential Center, a sprawling 20‑acre complex in Chicago’s Jackson Park, is set to open next June. The $830 million facility features a 225‑foot tower that has earned a reputation online for its stark shape, with many Instagram users likening it to a “Death Star.” Some local residents have gone as far to call it a “concrete tomb” or a “monstrosity,” but officials from the Obama Foundation say the design is intentionally symbolic.
“The shape of the building was actually meant to mimic four hands coming together to show the importance of our collective action,” Deputy Director Kim Patterson told CBS Chicago. She added that the tower’s few windows were a deliberate choice: “There are not a lot of windows on the building, but that’s intentional because sunlight is just not a friend to the artwork and the artifacts that are going inside of the building.”
Patterson also noted that Barack Obama himself has been involved in every stage of the project, from initial sketches to final furnishings. “I wish that people could be a fly on the wall to see how many times in the course of the day I hear from President Obama about ideas for the center, tweaks, programming, what we can do for the design,” she said. “I sent him the menu for the restaurants. He cares about what food we’re offering. Is it affordable? Is it tasty? Will children want it?”
Valerie Jarrett, the Foundation’s CEO and former senior adviser to the former president, emphasized the center’s commitment to diversity in its procurement process. “Because we believe inclusion is actually a strength,” she said, pointing out that many of the contracts have gone to businesses owned by people of color.
Instead of a traditional paper archive, the center will house digital files of President Obama’s communications. Jarrett highlighted that he was the first U.S. president to digitize all of his White House papers, which makes the research experience easier for scholars, students, and the general public alike.
Visitors will also have the chance to see Michelle Obama’s wardrobe on display, and the complex will feature an audio‑recording studio designed to give kids the opportunity to share their own stories. The Obama Foundation hopes the new center will become a focal point for community learning, civic engagement, and a celebration of shared progress.
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