CHICAGO | Obama Presidential Library - Page 46

left of center · #**901** Posted **Nov 1, 2018, 12:16 AM**

City Council unanimously approves use agreement for Obama Presidential Center
Source: https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/obam...-agreement-ordinance-20181031-story.html

Quote:

The Chicago City Council on Wednesday unanimously approved legislation that outlines how the Obama Foundation will be able to use the Obama Presidential Center once it is built in Jackson Park.

Once constructed, the facility will be turned over to the city, which will own the buildings. The foundation will be able to occupy the buildings and use them for 99 years in exchange for a one-time $10 fee. The legislation also outlines how some roadways will be adjusted to make way for the $500 million campus.

“We’ve come full circle by bringing a presidential center to the South Side of Chicago,” Mayor Rahm Emanuel said to applauding aldermen. “It’s been a long journey. … I got a little older in the process.

...

During his remarks, Emanuel read a letter he said was written by former President Barack Obama thanking the council for supporting development of the center.

“I am so excited and grateful that today the Obama Foundation received approval … on the agreement that will help bring the Obama Presidential Center to life as a resource and amenity for the people of Chicago,” Obama wrote in his letter. “Michelle and I could not be prouder or more excited to bring the center to the South Side, a community that has given us both so much.”

Obama repeated the statement on a video released by the foundation on Twitter moments after the vote.

...

Still, the foundation’s top brass applauded the City Council vote as a victory and said they plan to continue pushing forward. The use agreement will allow the foundation to occupy 19.3 acres of Jackson Park.

Unlike other museums, the center will not receive any city financial subsidies and the foundation will pay for operating the facility. The foundation will have to create an endowment and document to city officials that it has the money to both build and operate the facility independently.

“We’ll keep working on it and push it to the finish line,” said Martin Nesbitt, chairman of the foundation’s board.

sentinel · #**902** Posted **Nov 19, 2018, 6:33 PM**

New images of the Obama Center main building:

(Images courtesy of Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects)

SIGSEGV · #**903** Posted **Nov 20, 2018, 3:48 AM**

I like how it looks like it belongs in a park. Also kind of echoes the Logan Arts Center, which is not too far away: https://www.google.com/maps/@41.7859117,...3D253.26163%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100

Oh wait, it's the same architect isn't it?

Busy Bee · #**904** Posted **Nov 20, 2018, 3:54 AM**

Every since it was revealed something about it reminds me of the Yavin IV Rebel base from Star Wars. And I'm into that.

ardecila · #**905** Posted **Nov 20, 2018, 4:38 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SIGSEGV

I like how it looks like it belongs in a park. Also kind of echoes the Logan Arts Center, which is not too far away: https://www.google.com/maps/@41.7859117,...3D253.26163%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100

Oh wait, it's the same architect isn't it?

I’ve heard people make this same comment and mean it as a criticism, but I don’t see anything wrong with an architect designing two buildings in dialogue with each other. These two will be giants in the Hyde Park skyline for decades to come, I like the “two towers” thing shaping up along 60th. I don’t expect residential towers south of the Midway anytime soon, so the view of these towers will be unobstructed for the foreseeable future.

Also nothing wrong with an architect having a distinctive style. Does anyone go to Oak Park or Riverside and complain that the Frank Lloyd Wright houses are too similar?

SIGSEGV · #**906** Posted **Nov 20, 2018, 4:43 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ardecila

I’ve heard people make this same comment and mean it as a criticism, but I don’t see anything wrong with an architect designing two buildings in dialogue with each other. These two will be giants in the Hyde Park skyline for decades to come, as I don’t expect residential towers south of the Midway anytime soon.

There's nothing wrong with it. I just thought it was funny because the two look so similar and then I looked it up and found out that it is the same architect.

As for residential towers south of the Midway:

https://www.chicagomaroon.com/photo/2018/1/26/woodlawn-dorm-rendering/

ardecila · #**907** Posted **Nov 20, 2018, 4:46 AM**

I forgot about the high rise portion on that one, I thought it was gonna be another midrise like the Goody Clancy one already in South Campus.

Baronvonellis · #**908** Posted **Nov 20, 2018, 3:19 PM**

I don't like it, it looks like a giant brutalist tall bunker with some random windows stuck on and stones stuck on the outside like those 60's apartments buildings. I like all the Diller Scofidio + Renfro and Gang designs alot better! Also are those random letters on the top, or are they supposed to say something?

UPChicago · #**909** Posted **Nov 20, 2018, 3:58 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ardecila

These two will be giants in the Hyde Park skyline for decades to come, I like the “two towers” thing shaping up along 60th. I don’t expect residential towers south of the Midway anytime soon, so the view of these towers will be unobstructed for the foreseeable future.

In addition to the dorms, there is the 190-foot tall hotel at 60th and Dorchester and the 165-foot tall Rubenstein Forum at 60th and Woodlawn. Also, none of these structures are in Hyde Park.

ardecila · #**910** Posted **Nov 20, 2018, 11:33 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baronvonellis

I don't like it, it looks like a giant brutalist tall bunker with some random windows stuck on and stones stuck on the outside like those 60's apartments buildings. I like all the Diller Scofidio + Renfro and Gang designs alot better! Also are those random letters on the top, or are they supposed to say something?

TO each their own, I guess. I think the DS+R one is trying too hard to look like a drunken student's stack of textbooks, and the glass/steel cladding is just kinda chintzy.

The renderings we've seen for the Obama Center are all supposed to be warm and fuzzy watercolors, but check out TWBTA's Barnes Foundation in Philly if you wanna see what the actual cladding will look like. I'd hate for you to picture an Edgewater 4+1 with lava rock, lol. There's an article where they talk about how they evaluated stone from around the world to find one with the right warmth and durability, eventually using a limestone from Israel. All the other building materials at the Barnes are carefully chosen to create a powerful effect, from the hand-rubbed bronze window frames to the plaster on the ceilings.

Busy Bee · #**911** Posted **Nov 20, 2018, 11:35 PM**

[/QUOTE]

Cue Bob Seger

Seriously though, the winning proposal was the best proposal.

paytonc · #**912** Posted **Nov 24, 2018, 2:49 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ardecila

I don’t see anything wrong with an architect designing two buildings in dialogue with each other. These two will be giants in the Hyde Park skyline for decades to come, I like the “two towers” thing shaping up along 60th.

Not to mention that there are at least six towers lined up along 59th St. (west to east, Billings x2, Harper x2, Rockefeller Chapel, I-House).

That said, Washington Park was definitely the better location.

bnk · #**913** Posted **Feb 14, 2019, 9:27 PM**

Obama library no sure thing..

https://wgntv.com/2019/02/14/lawsuit-means-chicago-obama-library-plan-no-sure-thing/

r18tdi · #**914** Posted **Feb 19, 2019, 5:08 PM**

Ruling expected today?

the urban politician · #**915** Posted **Feb 19, 2019, 5:20 PM**

I love how damn slow lawsuits always go. It's criminal--clearly a system rigged by greedy lawyers to create as many billable hours as possible.

They probably could've combed through legal documents and Case Law in an afternoon or two over coffee, presented it to the judge, and gotten us an answer months ago. But that wouldn't make anybody any money....