New Contest Seeks Obama Library Proposals for River Corridor

While the official battle for the forthcoming Obama Presidential Library has entered the final round with four candidates remaining, a new contest from the Chicago Architectural Club seeks to spur debate and suggests new options for this legacy-defining structure. There's one big problem with the contest however. As Lynn Becker of Architecture Chicago Plus points out, the very slim brief offers a single site — a riverfront spot across from Wolf Point crossed by Metra tracks which is the site of the currently-under-construction River Point office tower.

Any submission would potentially be, in political parlance, a lame duck design, since the four finalists have been selected by the Barack Obama Foundation and will be presented for review in early 2015. But the library's expected urban setting provides a unique opportunity for engagement and creative design that could only be strengthened by hearing more ideas. Submission are due January 10, and a winner will be announced on February 3.
— Patrick Sisson

·Triple Fantasy: Chicago Architectural Club makes Obama Library focus of 2014 Chicago Prize competition [Arch Chi Plus]
·Barack Obama Presidential Library Contest [Chicago Architectural Club]
·Previous River Point coverage [Curbed Chicago]