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Valerie Jarrett, CEO of the Obama Foundation and former senior adviser to President Obama, noted that Obama has been deeply involved in the design process. “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, and what we can do for the design,” Jarrett said.
The Obama Presidential Center, intended to symbolize unity with its four-hand design, has become a lightning rod for criticism since early planning stages. Opponents have called the building a “gray blob,” while supporters view it as a bold architectural statement and community anchor. The project has also faced protests from local residents concerned about gentrification and loss of affordable housing.
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