SouthernWorldwide.com – The architect behind a distinctive feature of the Obama Presidential Center has pushed back against critics who have labeled the building a “monstrous insult” to architecture.
Thomas Bird, a principal at the architectural firm Moody Nolan, designed the upper quadrant of the tower, which is adorned with 91 words from speeches delivered by former President Barack Obama during his two terms in office. These words wrap around a corner of the building, creating a unique aesthetic that has garnered both praise and ridicule.
Bird explained that each of the 433 individual letters stands approximately five feet tall. He described the process of integrating these quotes into the building’s design as unprecedented, involving close collaboration with the design architects and graphic designers to shape and place the speech elements onto the structure.
The Obama Presidential Center itself has faced significant backlash online. Detractors have described the building with terms such as a “monstrous insult to architecture,” a “concrete nightmare,” and a “monstrosity.”
Despite the criticism, Bird expressed satisfaction with the final result and remains unfazed by the negative commentary. He believes the tower serves as a powerful anchor for the site and the surrounding neighborhood, blending harmoniously with the park’s landscape.
“Now that it’s complete, it feels like it really anchors this site and this neighborhood,” Bird stated. “You know, it’s able to blend in with the park in a way that’s really nice. I mean, the landscape architecture — as well as the building — the landscape architectures is incredible.”
He also shared his observations of the emotional reactions from people during the center’s opening festivities. Bird noted that the response was overwhelmingly positive, with many individuals expressing smiles and some even shedding tears.
“I mean, it’s nothing but smiles and some tears sometimes. I think everyone finds a bit of themselves that they knew or didn’t know they needed here, which is really special,” he said.
Bird strongly disagrees with the characterization of the building as a “monstrosity.” He views the tower as a significant and impressive gesture within the broader park setting.
“So, the tower itself is an incredible gesture in the rest of the park,” Bird explained. “We’re reaching toward the sky, it is tall, but it’s not much taller — I mean it’s kind of matched in size by lots of the buildings around this area.”
He concluded by asserting his view on the building’s design and impact. “I think to say that it’s a monstrosity is wrong. I would say that it’s a really grand gesture and a bold statement,” Bird remarked.
