Under leadership of professor and renowned architect Donna Robertson, Former Dean of the college of Architecture at the Illinois Institute of Technology, this spring '17 semester was focused on institutional projects.
Our project was to come up with a comprehensive design for the confirmed Chicago site for the Obama Presidential Library in Jackson Park. Being in such a rich residential and educational neighborhood like Hyde Park, we had to, first and foremost, extensively research the needs and wants of the community.
Our proposed design for the OPL tailors to the needs of the neighborhood on a larger scale and needs of Jackson park on a smaller scale. By maintaining a small footprint and maximizing access to green spaces, we were able to make a monumental, strong standing structure that offered a diverse collection of public and private spaces for visitors to experience the inside and outside of the building.
The project is split into 3 zones: Library Wing, Central community Ring, and Administration Wing. Each zone contains a variety of spaces such as the Joe Biden Technology Center, Michelle Obama Garden, Hyde Park Community Theatre and the Barack Obama Auditorium.
Approaching Site From West
Main Entry Lobby | Central Ring
Community Activity Ring | Central Ring
NARA & Director's Offices | Administration Wing
Barack H. Obama Auditorium | Library Wing
Library Gift shop | Library Wing
Grand Reading Room | Library Wing
