The Obama Center is Going through a Soft Opening

With an official opening scheduled for Juneteenth, the Obama Center is currently going through a soft opening. Joe Valerio, Steve Droll, Bob Webber and Linda Searl of Searl Lamaster Howe were invited to visit the campus on May 14th. After entering the plaza defined by the museum to the north, the forum to the east, and the new Chicago Public Library to the south, we entered the museum and passed through touchless security. We were free to explore the Museum from the Lower Level to the eighth floor observation deck.

Obama has said the most important word in the English language is “we.” And the theme of “Yes We Can” is repeated over and over again throughout the museum. The message is simple and optimistic. Tod Williams and Billie Tsien, very serious architects, were selected based on a positive chemistry with the Obamas.

The entry plaza is dominated by the museum tower. Its origin is both simple and highly symbolic, inspired by the idea of four hands coming together. The most basic “we” is the four hands of two people joined together.

It is a powerful landmark on the skyline. But like every sculptural move by any designer it will take time to be accepted. We guess it will become a symbol of optimism—needed at any time.

Once inside, we wandered through the first floor. The artwork is astonishing. The open stair that connects to the lower level is Nick Cave’s and Marie Watt’s collaboration in “This Land, Shared Sky.” The art throughout the campus is emotional and enhances the message of the museum.

From the first floor lobby, you are led to a bank of elevators and an escalator that connects the building vertically from the first through the fifth floors. Coming up the escalator from the first floor we recognized there was a vertical space that connected all the levels together. At that moment, Obama’s quote, “The arts have always been central to the American experience. They provoke thought, challenge our assumptions, and shape how we define our narrative as a country” was on display. Inspiring, hardly artful. Until the image changed! On every level we were entertained by an artful image from four projectors seamlessly integrated into one multi-story, iconic image.

Left: our first view from L1. Right: View from L4 of one of many images. Yes, the arts are central.

The 2nd through the 5th levels are packed with information, but organized in a way that you can spend a half hour or three hours absorbing everything. It allows the visitor to self-manage the experience.

Each of the four floors has a theme:

Level 2: Towards a More Perfect Union

Level 3: Working for the Common Good

Level 4: The People’s House

Level 5: We the People

The second floor is the start of the Michael Jordan Exhibition Gallery with the exhibit “Toward a More Perfect Union.” The exhibit was designed by Ralph Appelbaum Associates from New York and local collaborators Civic Projects Architecture and the Normal Studio. It begins with an immersion into Obama’s mindset, his messaging is always spot on.

As you move up through the museum, there are educational exhibitions about how the government works. The messaging is less emotional, but still spot on, with a focus on communities of color and an emphasis on bi-lingual messaging.

On L3 there is a full scale reconstruction of Obama’s oval office, where every visitor gets to sit behind the resolute desk.

Linda is seated at the Resolute Desk (as she should be) with Steve, Bob, and Joe standing behind.

Nearby, is an exhibit of Michele Obama’s fashion statements including the stunning dress that she wore for her official portrait.

On L4, the emphasis is connecting each visitor with a new vision of “We the people”—all the people. The visitor enters a circular, interactive image where you are invited to add your name to the milieu.

Finally, the visitor reaches the observatory on L8 (L6 and L7 are meeting and special events spaces). The visitor is treated to a spectacular view of the lake, the city, Jackson Park. The visitor views the landscape through the words excerpted from Obama’s speech in Selma, Alabama on the 50th anniversary of the march from Selma to Montgomery.

*Looking through the iconic letters to the forum building and the Chicago Public Library, with its extensive rooftop garden below.*

Author

Guest UserMay 26, 2026