Posted on 12/26/2025 1:49:22 AM PST by Libloather
The odd design of former President Barack Obama’s new presidential center is supposed to evoke unity and not Darth Vader, according to an Obama Foundation official, who explained the bizarre look of the austere building.
The $830 million monolith — slated to open in Chicago next year — has drawn comparisons to the “Death Star” on social media, and some locals have described it as a “concrete tomb” and a “monstrosity.”
“The shape of the building was actually meant to mimic four hands coming together to show the importance of our collective action,” Obama Foundation Deputy Director Kim Patterson told CBS Chicago.
The 225-foot tower’s windows are few and far between, which Patterson noted was also purposeful.
“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,” she said.
Obama Foundation CEO Valerie Jarrett, who served as a senior adviser during the former president’s two terms in the White House, noted that Obama has been very involved in the design of his library.
“I wish that people could be a fly on the wall to see how many times in the course of the day that I hear from President Obama about ideas for the center, tweaks, programming, what we can do for the design,” Jarrett said.
“I sent him the menu for the restaurants,” she added. “He cares about what food we’re offering. Is it affordable? Is it tasty? Will children want it?”
Jarrett touted the foundation’s efforts to contract with racially diverse businesses throughout the process.
“Because we believe inclusion is actually a strength,” she said.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
| The design appears to be a failed imitation of the Kadokawa Publishing Company's museum north of Tokyo. Went there: THAT building is stunning inside and out. |
It’s “OBAMA’S EYE SORE!!!
I don’t like the label “FOLLY” because Seward’s FOLLY , ALASKA, was a FABULOUS PURCHASE!
It looks like a WWII Nazi flack tower.
The world’s largest steam room/bathhouse.
Pretty close!
Windowless chuck of misshapen concrete like Vegas: what happens in the 0bama Library stays in the 0bama library.
It is worse in person - somehow manages to look obscene.
“It is worse in person - somehow manages to look obscene”
I don’t doubt that at all.
It’s a piece of crap for a guy that was full of crap.
That sculpture looks like someone trying to pull their head out of their behind.
It’ll look great covered in Ghetto Graffiti!
Considering what these Beltway barbarians think is art, that may be a kindness.
It was indeed a great purchase, probably the best one and only folly in history where it turned out to be great!
$830,000,000??!!
Disgusting amount of money.
It’s disgusting and so far away from a government for the people and of the people.
And I will feel exactly the same way if Trump spends this kind of money on a self edifying building.
Uh...Fultons Folly was great for its time, too!
The Barack Bunker takes its design cues from WWII German Flack Towers. It makes your average midwestern grain elevator seem elegantly graceful.
I'm sure that will pack the crowds in.
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