CHICAGO | Obama Presidential Library

[vexxed82]

Been on a bit of a drone kick this winter. Popped over to Jackson Park to capture the OPC in the snow. I thought the hyper-winter scene and the monolithic structure would look great - in a stark kind of way.

I was a bit surprised to find crews hanging the concrete letters, so I didn't get very close - the first shot is a tighter crop. Can't wait to see this corner once it's all done. Also interested to see how/if there is any backlighting.

[sentinel]

Admittedly, that is stunning. You've done it again! Thank you!

[sentinel]

From the Lakeside Alliance LinkedIn Page:

[HomeInMyShoes]

That is very cool.

[Halsted & Villagio]

I liked the concept and saw the vision, but this came out even better than expected and it’s not even completely buttoned up yet. Major cool points. I also love that it will spark much debate for many years to come, vis-a-vis a work of art by Picasso/some don’t get it/some hate it/some love it… but whatever camp you fall into, you can’t stop talking about it.

Instant icon.

[ardecila]

Yeah I think the text really ties it all together. It's a huge "delicate" element that balances out the blocky monolith of the tower.

I think the site design/landscaping will be an instant success once it opens too. If they can manage to get the site open for the cherry blossoms this spring, it will be a natural extension of the museum/lagoon/Wooded Island where people love to go stroll.

[r18tdi]

Originally Posted by ardecila

I think the site design/landscaping will be an instant success once it opens too. If they can manage to get the site open for the cherry blossoms this spring, it will be a natural extension of the museum/lagoon/Wooded Island where people love to go stroll.

Especially if they can get the Clarence Darrow memorial bridge repaired and operational again.

[Klippenstein]

Originally Posted by r18tdi

Especially if they can get the Clarence Darrow memorial bridge repaired and operational again.

Amen. Though I haven't heard any movement on that lately. It'll probably take at least another couple years.

[Busy Bee]

Fantastic.

I'm still a little bit surprised by the fabricating of the letters out of high strength concrete though. It seems like durability, climate extremes, weight load and cost would favor just conventional cast aluminum or some special cheaper alloy.

Looks great either way and i agree this really balances out the colossal mass of the rest of the monument.

[aaron38]

Just a bit of reality check, but you do realize that due to the text wrapping and font vertical cropping, that no one who doesn't already know what it says will ever read that from the ground?
No, it won't be a Picaso. People will look up, either ignore it as intelligible or recognize it as a hot mess, and move on.

[jc5680]

Originally Posted by aaron38

Just a bit of reality check, but you do realize that due to the text wrapping and font vertical cropping, that no one who doesn't already know what it says will ever read that from the ground?
No, it won't be a Picaso. People will look up, either ignore it as intelligible or recognize it as a hot mess, and move on.

A terribly literal take with a reference Picasso is incredibly hilarious

[aaron38]

Originally Posted by sentinel

Point in case, I'm going to type out exactly what I see here:

"unconstrain convfniion by whai is rf iai oughi io vh frf in ihts
arffirststeps rfisnfwgrou rf arf more ossed america
ct of any one if mosi power r democracy wf the people ?mf yes we can
vned by no one ever yonf oh js task wf arf nuaiiy try io nation of ours

[aaron38]

Originally Posted by jc5680

A terribly literal take with a reference Picasso is incredibly hilarious

Not a single Picasso has two paragraphs of quotes. (I was referring to H&V's observation above, I didn't come up with it [I get it and hate it])
So all that writing is not meant to be taken literally?

[munchymunch]

Originally Posted by aaron38

Not a single Picasso has two paragraphs of quotes. (I was referring to H&V's observation above, I didn't come up with it [I get it and hate it])
So all that writing is not meant to be taken literally?

I can read the letters. Sure some of it is cut off but I assume it continues on the other face. Am I crazy? I dont understand how you guys can’t read it.

[dropdeaded209]

it ain't elegant, that's for sure... sort of a headache to make out what it says, especially with the "T"s top lines blending into the guiding horizontal lines and the bottom line of the "E"s getting absorbed as well...

[Kenmore]

god this thing sucks

[Steely Dan]

Originally Posted by aaron38

Not a single Picasso has two paragraphs of quotes. (I was referring to H&V's observation above, I didn't come up with it [I get it and hate it])
So all that writing is not meant to be taken literally?

It was clear to me that H&V was talking about the entire composition of this building, and how it will strongly divide public opinion, much as the Picasso sculpture in Daley Plaza did when it was first installed.

You and Kenmore are only serving to prove his point.

[sentinel]

Originally Posted by Kenmore

god this thing sucks

I have issues with it, but I’m curious, why does it suck to you?

[BuildThemTaller]

It's pretty easy to read when you view it from the northwest corner. Personally, I am digging this whole project. Maybe it is because I like monolithic structures? Maybe it is them ripping a street out of a public park? I think it is a great addition to Chicago's architectural identity and can't wait to visit when it is open to the public.

[NYguy]

https://radiiinc.com/williams-tsien-obama-library/9fic31xwu2uv4vssj0ngb4phvu5nva