Once bustling with activity on the international stage, former President Obama seems to have traded geopolitical affairs for architectural ambitions. The spotlight now is not on his foreign policies but rather on the curious construction in Chicago, the Obama Presidential Center. With a design that some might say is as peculiar as it is controversial, people are left wondering if the real purpose of this architectural endeavor is to memorialize Obama’s presidential legacy or to play a lifelong game of, “Guess what I’m building.”
The discourse around this oversized, pricey structure seems to focus more on its questionable exterior than any anticipated grandeur within. From afar, the building appears as if it was transplanted directly from a “Star Wars” set, lacking in windows and shrouded in secrecy. The design, which has led some to see no architectural genius but a messy eyesore, claims its inspiration from “four hands coming together” to symbolize unity and collective action. However, it’s challenging to unite the American public around the aesthetic appeal of what looks more like a symbol of confusion than cohesion.
Kim Patterson of the Obama Presidential Center has come to the rescue like a knight to a damsel in distress, clarifying that the absence of windows is not an oversight but a thought-out decision. Sunlight, she argues, is not friendly to the precious artworks and artifacts inside. While the need to preserve history is appreciated, the public might be left wondering if anyone has figured out how to let in some metaphorical light—perhaps to illuminate why the design costs have soared to an astronomical $850 million. Yes, the budget seems as boundless as the design is confounding.
In true pragmatic fashion, one might argue that the money spent on creating an avant-garde parkour set in Chicago could have been better used in tackling pressing issues—ones that could benefit from some of that “collective action” symbolism. Yet, here stands the giant, ready to engulf more funds as the cost meter ticks upward, possibly crossing the billion-dollar mark, much like a never-ending auction.
In a move both theatrical and reminiscent of another presidency, former President Obama chooses the hard hat approach – literally. Among construction workers, he dons the quintessential yellow hat, striding about and attempting to connect with the public. One might see this as a nod to Donald Trump’s success in marrying business with politics. Or perhaps it’s just the former commander-in-chief’s way of bringing presidential charisma to industrial drudgery.
In the end, whether this architectural gamble will be remembered as an inspired homage to Obama’s presidency or just an expensive reminder of fiscal extravagance, one thing is certain: the Obama Presidential Center will remain a colossal conversation starter, and not necessarily in the way it might have intended.
