CHICAGO | Obama Presidential Library

[Klippenstein]

Photo by Doug Shaeffer

[Ganesha]

It really is funny that he takes such excellent pics of the site despite hating it (and Obama) so much. His blog is quite something. Thanks again Doug!

[Jstange059]

[JMBasquiat]

• Video Link

[Busy Bee]

Sub’s Lawsuit Says Racial Discrimination Is Behind Blame for Obama Center Problems

By Annemarie Mannion | Engineering News Record

A concrete subcontractor on the Obama Presidential Center is alleging racial discrimination against Thornton Tomasetti.



January 31, 2025

A Chicago-based concrete subcontractor has filed a $40-million federal lawsuit against Thornton Tomasetti, which is providing structural engineering and protective design services for the Obama Presidential Center project, alleging that racial discrimination caused project delays and cost overruns and put the subcontractor on the verge of bankruptcy.

The subcontractor, II in One Concrete, is part of the Concrete Collective, a joint venture on the project that also includes W.E. O'Neill Construction Co., and Trice Construction Co.

The initial subcontract price of the II in One JV subcontract was $27 million. According to the lawsuit, the damages that II in One has suffered include lost profits from this project and inability to obtain surety credit needed to bid on bonded projects, including public projects.

II In One alleges that it was singled out due to racial discrimination and “subjected to baseless criticisms and defamatory and discriminatory accusations” by New York-based structural engineer Thornton Tomasetti.

The lawsuit alleges that Thornton Tomasetti made an “improper and unanticipated decision” to impose new rules regarding rebar spacing and tolerance requirements, and required the subcontractor to undergo “excessively rigorous and unnecessary inspection,” which resulted in “extensive paperwork that impacted productivity and resulted in millions in losses.”

“In a shocking and disheartening turn of events, the African-American owner of a local construction company finds himself and his company on the brink of forced closure because of racial discrimination by the structural engineer,” the lawsuit states.

Robert McGee, one of the owners of II In One Concrete, also alleges that Thornton Tomasetti submitted a letter to the owner, the Obama Foundation, falsely indicating that project delays and cost overruns were the result of “the underperformance and inexperience of the concrete subcontractor.”

Other accusations about the costly problems on the project also apparently came from the project's general contractor, Lakeside Alliance. It is made up of construction firms Brown & Momen, Power & Sons Construction, Safeway Construction and UJAMAA Construction and Turner Construction.

These allegations include the timeliness of Thornton Tomasetti’s responsiveness during construction administration, the quality of its structural drawings and specifications, the number of requests for information during construction, rebar congestion and splice requirements.

Rest

[sentinel]

Originally Posted by Busy Bee

Sub’s Lawsuit Says Racial Discrimination Is Behind Blame for Obama Center Problems

By Annemarie Mannion | Engineering News Record

A concrete subcontractor on the Obama Presidential Center is alleging racial discrimination against Thornton Tomasetti.



January 31, 2025

A Chicago-based concrete subcontractor has filed a $40-million federal lawsuit against Thornton Tomasetti, which is providing structural engineering and protective design services for the Obama Presidential Center project, alleging that racial discrimination caused project delays and cost overruns and put the subcontractor on the verge of bankruptcy.

The subcontractor, II in One Concrete, is part of the Concrete Collective, a joint venture on the project that also includes W.E. O'Neill Construction Co., and Trice Construction Co.

The initial subcontract price of the II in One JV subcontract was $27 million. According to the lawsuit, the damages that II in One has suffered include lost profits from this project and inability to obtain surety credit needed to bid on bonded projects, including public projects.

II In One alleges that it was singled out due to racial discrimination and “subjected to baseless criticisms and defamatory and discriminatory accusations” by New York-based structural engineer Thornton Tomasetti.

The lawsuit alleges that Thornton Tomasetti made an “improper and unanticipated decision” to impose new rules regarding rebar spacing and tolerance requirements, and required the subcontractor to undergo “excessively rigorous and unnecessary inspection,” which resulted in “extensive paperwork that impacted productivity and resulted in millions in losses.”

“In a shocking and disheartening turn of events, the African-American owner of a local construction company finds himself and his company on the brink of forced closure because of racial discrimination by the structural engineer,” the lawsuit states.

Robert McGee, one of the owners of II In One Concrete, also alleges that Thornton Tomasetti submitted a letter to the owner, the Obama Foundation, falsely indicating that project delays and cost overruns were the result of “the underperformance and inexperience of the concrete subcontractor.”

Other accusations about the costly problems on the project also apparently came from the project's general contractor, Lakeside Alliance. It is made up of construction firms Brown & Momen, Power & Sons Construction, Safeway Construction and UJAMAA Construction and Turner Construction.

These allegations include the timeliness of Thornton Tomasetti’s responsiveness during construction administration, the quality of its structural drawings and specifications, the number of requests for information during construction, rebar congestion and splice requirements.

Rest

Considering that even the Obama Foundation came out saying that they didn't see/witness any kind of discrimination from Thornton Thomasetti, this will probably be dismissed.

[Busy Bee]

I don't know much about this story other than what I just read but it seems like maybe the simplest explanation is that the concrete contractor was just in a little bit over their heads with the project and are looking for an egregious explanation for why they did a substandard job. I don't know though, I wasn't there.

[r18tdi]

I feel like the Tribune story does a better job explaining the situation and includes comments from the Obama Foundation.

[aaron38]

Originally Posted by Busy Bee

maybe the simplest explanation is that the concrete contractor was just in a little bit over their heads with the project.

There's a reason why we hire based on merit. It's for everyone's benefit, both sides. So this doesn't happen.

[moorhosj1]

Originally Posted by aaron38

There's a reason why we hire based on merit. It's for everyone's benefit, both sides. So this doesn't happen.

There is a very long history of patronage hiring in Chicago that proves the idea of "merit based hiring" to be false.

[BIGdckbrett]

Originally Posted by Jstange059

will reserve my final decree on this project until its completed
however
its not looking good so far

[cloudbod]

Originally Posted by BIGdckbrett

will reserve my final decree on this project until its completed
however
its not looking good so far

1. those pics are 4 months old
2. it has a long way to go yet, even after it opens (it's a park, so the trees and gardens will need to grow)
3. go see it in person to make your "final decree". Spaces need to be experienced in context, not just online
4. two account posts total, both negative. Sus af bro

[SIGSEGV]

today, from the 2



(apologize for the reflection of internal bus lights)

[BuildThemTaller]

Will reserve my final decree until I get to see it in person, but the quality of materials and monolithic nature of the structure look promising af.

[bhawk66]

Hats off to the stone installers and fabricators. That looks to be a very challenging job. Lot's of angles and degreed planes to join up.

[Klippenstein]

Photos by Doug Shaeffer

[sentinel]

What is all of that weird striating on the exterior stone cladding?

[ardecila]

The joints between the stone panels are getting pointed, I assume this is just runoff from the mortar and dust from the heavy rain. Above the "belt line" the rain is cleaning the stone, below it the dust is dripping and accumulating.

I'm sure it will go away when they do a final facade cleaning.


Also, can I say how much I love this photo? Seeing the stone darkened and wet with an ominous, gloomy sky is f'n awesome. Finally giving the mysterious, ancient Temple of Yavin vibes I always wanted from this building. It feels too sterile when there's a blue sky and the stone is glistening.

[TonyTone]

Yo this this is fukin bad ass, wow I need to see this in person when it's done

[sentinel]

Tbh, my personal preference was for the lighter/beige-ier toned stone cladding from the renderings. This reads dark and somewhat more ominous, so not really a fan anymore. I’ll pass judgement when it’s finally complete and open, but whatever, again, just personal preference.