The ‘APDG’ Block refers to the location of the precinct surrounded by Alfred St., Pitt St., Dally St. and George St., fronting Circular Quay and sketches on the right show the perspectives of pedestrians walking past different locations inside the block. In general, the majority of constructions within in ‘APDG’ Block are high-rise buildings and they mainly have big building envelopes. There are various and complex spaces existing in the interior yard of buildings, which makes the current conditions of this block a little complicated.

The ‘APDG’ Precinct currently complys with uniform 110 metre height and 12.5: 1 floor space ratio standards. Directed by Ian Cady and David Hoy, the City Architect have developed an alternative proposal that rearranges the existing development into three towers of up to 200 metres in height in order to create improved laneways and a new public open space. As a principal land holder of the block, Westpac engaged Urbis to review the scheme and advise them on property economics, urban design and statutory planning.

It indicates the general aim of the Presidential Centre by Obama Foundation to encourage the public to be engaged in positive social activities and obtain a deeper understanding of the life and career of Barack Obama, the 44th President of the United States of America, based upon the achievements, contributions and anecdotes Barack Obama and Michelle Obama had experienced.

The coloured areas in red and blue in the image above do indicate the official locations of Barack Obama Presidential Centre that the global design and architecture firm SOM selected in two communities in South Side of Chicago. The two sites both have much of the area situated in parks- Washington Park and Jackson Park which comprise a major part of the park system in Southside. Apart from that, both of the two sites are within 400-metre circle of existing CTA (Chicago Transit Authority) Railway Stations, which means that the Presidential Centre would be built under transit-oriented principle and as the urban catalyst to activate the development of surrounding areas.

There are communities involved in the potential development of the Obama Presidential Centre in South Side of Chicago- Washington Park, Hyde Park and Woodlawn, as are shown in the general figure ground of communities above. According to the researches done on these communities, these communities are rich in religious institutions, such as baptist churches and educational facilities are of various types including primary schools, high schools and universities. However, there exist issues which might be serious in the process of urban development, with lack of security facilities and public cultural institutions, such as libraries and galleries, included.

Also, based upon the good amount of researches done on the history and background of South Side and communities in Chicago, there were facts that the population in Washington Park community had experienced a sharp decline from around 1910 to 1970, partly due to the Great Migration, and Woodlawn faced the similar situation compared to the population of Chicago overall (See the diagram below). Also, there was a proportion of 25.7% among people aged 25 and over without high school degree in Washington Park community. Apart from these, median household income is relatively low while crime rate and unemployment rate are high, especially in year 2010, in the communities where the number of African American people dominates.

The vision for 51st Street Site

The vision is to create a building embedded in the landscape, honoring the spatial flow of the Olmsted Park, while also being in synergy with Provident Hospital and the Walter H. Dyett High School. Sited at the North West corner of Washington Park, the Obama Presidential Centre preserves the significant arboretum facing Martin Luther King Drive and connects with 51st Street station on the Green Line.

Ellsworth Drive is redirected to cross Martin Luther King Drive and to cut through the long blocks of the neighborhood. This is a key move to regenerate the neighborhood. Thus creating a matrix of activity around the center. Pedestrian and bicycle paths within the park preserve the traditional Olmsted alignment.

The issues for 51st Street Site

To develop the Obama Presidential Center in the public open space of Washington Park in a way which honors the original Olmsted plan for the park by re-working the roadway dominated north-west corner.

To design the Obama Presidential Center as an architectonic landscape in the manner of Chicago’s Millennium Park, working with the undulations of site to create a seamless fusion of underground and street-defining spaces.

Strategies for 51st Street Site

Realign Ellsworth Drive to meet Martin Luther King Drive at mid-block and extend through the Washington Park neighborhood, preserving the arboretum, creating a site for the Obama Presidential Library at the north-west corner of the park and increasing the porosity of the neighborhood.

Recreate pathways from the original Olmsted plan for the north-west corner of Washington Park as the generator of form for the Obama Presidential Center as an architectonic landscape set within the park, at the same time having an urban presence on Martin Luther King Drive and 51st Street.

Develop a commercial corridor along 51st St. from the CTA station to activate the area and provide a significant economic boost to the neighborhood.

Build a prominent preventative health/wellness center for Provident Hospital on 51st Street across from the Obama Presidential Center as a living testament to the President’s health initiatives.

Develop in-fill housing within the grid structure of the neighborhood.

The image above shows the urban design framework for 51st Street Site, and there are 4 steps involved in the process of design: (a) To define the 51st Street, Martin Luther King Drive and realigned Ellsworth Drive. (b) To create connectivity to the existing 51st Railway Station on CTA Green Line. (c) To preserve the historic arboretum and show respect to the 1870’s Olmsted Plan for Washington Park. (d) To create connectivity between the Presidential Centre and Provident Hospital and the high school. The design for OPC will be aimed to function as the catalyst to strengthen the bonds between itself and the medical centre, as well as to activate the educational development and employment.

The image above shows the section of the design for OPC from south on the 51st Street, which indicates the multi-storey and stresses the mixed-use of different floors.

There are phases included in the process of the design for Obama Presidential Centre, which includes to develop the OPC as the core development, along with refurbishment of 51st railway station and commercial strip on 51st Street, to increase the density of dwelling area, to strengthen the mixed-use development of 51st Street.