the barack obama foundation has invited seven architecture firms to submit proposals for the ‘obama presidential center’, to be built in chicago’s south side. in alphabetical order, the following practices have been asked to present schemes:

 

adjaye associates
diller scofidio + renfro
john ronan architects
renzo piano building workshop
SHoP architects
snøhetta
tod williams billie tsien architects

 

‘the foundation received submissions from an impressive list of architects with a range of styles, expertise, and experience,’ said martin nesbitt, chairman of the obama foundation. ‘these finalists offer a variety of backgrounds and styles, and any one of them would be an excellent choice. we are excited to see this process moving forward because the obama presidential center will be so much more than a library — this facility will seek to inspire citizens across the globe to better their communities, their countries, and their world.’

barack obama foundation presidential center chicago shortlist diller scofidio renfro renzo piano david adjaye snohetta designboom
map showing the obama presidential center’s two potential locations
image courtesy of OPL south side | main image by tom rossiter / courtesy of OPL south side

 

 

 

the obama foundation released a request for qualifications on august 26, 2015, and asked that responses be submitted by september 16. the foundation and its advisers reviewed the responses and made recommendations to both the president and the first lady. although not strictly a design competition, the presented schemes will still require a defined visual response from each candidate.

 

as the foundation has not yet determined the specific site for the project, the firms will be asked to prepare responses for both the jackson park and washington park site. once complete, the presidential center will include a library holding presidential archives, a museum focusing on the obama presidency and global issues of our time, and space for programs and initiative that advance the foundation’s public mission.

 

the design responses will be submitted to the foundation during the first quarter of 2016.