BARACK OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARYA MOBILE ARCHIVE

The typology of the Presidential Library is fraught with formality.

Through the building-analysis of twelve precedent libraries, we find in each structure several architectural and operational commonalities. Privately erected, yet federally maintained, these building systems are motivated by a double-purpose of ensuring the preservation of historic materials, while also making them available to the public.

At their core, these projects maintain a deeply embedded and well-packed archive. These areas typically have separate temperature controls, lighting conditions, and security clearances from the front-of-house galleries. Civic function, then, is typified through a process of “inflating” the archive walls with stylized galleries and historicisms. The artifacts chosen to display in this “public realm” are often meant to enshrine and commercialize the president’s life.

As the production of architectural narrative intervenes and conditions the visitor’s experience, we have chosen to liberate the archival core from its vernacular wrapper– recasting it as a naked and autonomous urban figure.

The new Archive Building acts as an architectural crate within the city, providing visual connections to the artifacts and document-stacks within. Taking cues from neighboring infrastructure and distribution centers, the taut storage volume hovers above an expansive ground plane, allowing for through-access and stationing of mobile galleries: the archive’s New Strategy for community outreach.

Every morning electrically-powered pop-up trucks exit the hub, combing the city with content and media sourced from the archival core. Each truck is branded to typify one of President Obama’s core positions, maintaining a schedule of value-specific destinations:

Fit out with interactive touch-screens and immersive web applications, the mobile archives are meant to redefine the way people “visit” the museum; from a static, historic expression of the president’s legacy, to a responsive piece of infrastructure, redefining itself alongside the city.

national identity and tourism hotspots public libraries and technology centers

public schools

parks and green retirement facilities and hospitals shopping centersspaces

ARCHIVE BUIDLING AS URBAN OBJECTEMBEDDED WITHIN THE CITY

TYPICAL PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARYWITH EMBEDDED ARCHIVE

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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

HARRY S. TRUMAN LIBRARY AND MUSEUM COMMEMORATED: 6-JUL-1957 LOCATION: INDEPENDENCE, MO

CONSTRUCTION COST

SIZE: 96,612 SF (NARA: 22,220 SF)

2.8

Online visits, m

23%

(adjusted for inflation)VISITORS (2013)

$13,872,360 109,000NEO-PALLADIAN

LOCATION: HYDE PARK, NY

CONSTRUCTION COST VISITORS (2013)

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

4,422

D

LOCATION: ABILENE, KS

$$$$$$$$$$$$$

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

COMMEMORATED: 20-JUN-1941

SIZE: 52,640 SF (NARA: 11,054 SF)

0.6

Online visits, m

21%

(adjusted for inflation)

PROGRAM ANALYSIS $6,269,360 148,000DUTCH COLONIAL STYLE

$$$ TERM

DAYS

0 50k 100k 150k 200k

$0 $50m $100m $150m $200m $250m

0 50k 100k 150k 200k

$0 $50m $100m $150m $200m $250m D

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

$$$

PROGRAM ANALYSIS

2,840TERM

DAYS

CONSTRUCTION COST

SIZE: 109,254 SF (NARA: 14,170 SF)

0.8

Online visits, m(adjusted for inflation)

VISITORS (2013)$15,020,360 218,000

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

$$$

2,922TERM

DAYS

0 50k 100k 150k 200k

$0 $50m $100m $150m $200m $250m

D

DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

COMMEMORATED: 1-MAY-1962CLASSICAL MODERN

This taxonomy of Presidential Libraries is meant to visualize the embedded space operated by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). All archival materials displayed in library galleries are sourced from this research vault. The surrounding architecture functions as exhibition space, auditoria, cafe, retail, and support program; typical of the commercial museum typology.

Given the density of the selected site, and the opportunity for the exterior to participate in a larger urban function, the archive volume at BOPL is extracted and externalized to make physical contact with the city. Rather than embed the archive within an architectural style meant to condition its occupants, BOPL expresses it as a direct source of information. Treating the ground floor as a garage condition, gallery trucks are mobilized daily with exhibition materials, returning in the evening to restock. The city’s problems and successes become the context for the galleries, rather than historical duplication and pastiche.

PRECEDENT ANALYSIS

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

13%

R

PROGRAM ANALYSIS

LOCATION: BOSTON, MA

CONSTRUCTION COST

SIZE: 115,000 SF (NARA: 30,000 SF)

3.5

Online visits, m(adjusted for inflation)

VISITORS (2013)$65,738,000 280,000

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

$$$

1,036TERM

DAYS

0 50k 100k 150k 200k

$0 $50m $100m $150m $200m $250m

JOHN F. KENNEDYPRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

COMMEMORATED: 20-OCT-1979MODERN

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

26%

PROGRAM ANALYSIS

D

LOCATION: AUSTIN, TX

CONSTRUCTION COST

SIZE: 134,695 SF (NARA: 32,326 SF)

1.8

Online visits, m(adjusted for inflation)

VISITORS (2013)$105,648,000 160,000

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

1,886TERM

DAYS

$0 $50m $100m $150m $200m $250m

LYNDON BAINES JOHNSON LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

COMMEMORATED: 22-MAY-1971

BRUTALIST

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

24%

PROGRAM ANALYSIS

$$$$$$$$$

R

LOCATION: YORBA LINDA, CA

CONSTRUCTION COST

SIZE: 87,000 SF (NARA: 27,840 SF)

1.0

Online visits, m(adjusted for inflation)

VISITORS (2013)$44,000,000 88,000

2,027TERM

DAYS

0 50k 100k 150k 200k

$0 $50m $100m $150m $200m $250m

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY COMMEMORATED: 19-JUL-1990CALIFORNIA RANCH

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

32%

PROGRAM ANALYSIS

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

$$$$$$$$

R

LOCATION: GRAND RAPIDS/ANN ARBOR, MI

CONSTRUCTION COST

SIZE: 94,000 SF (NARA: 17,860 SF)

1.2

Online visits, m(adjusted for inflation)

VISITORS (2013)$38,600,000 341,000

895TERM

DAYS

0 50k 100k 150k 200k

$0 $50m $100m $150m $200m $250m

GERALD R. FORD PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

COMMEMORATED: 1981/1982

INTERNATIONAL STYLE

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

19%

PROGRAM ANALYSIS

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

$$$$$$$$$$$

D

LOCATION: ATLANTA, GA

CONSTRUCTION COST

SIZE: 69,740 SF (NARA: 31,150 SF)

0.6

Online visits, m(adjusted for inflation)

VISITORS (2013)$54,340,000 68,000

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

1,461TERM

DAYS

0 50k 100k 150k 200k

$0 $50m $100m $150m $200m $250m

JIMMY CARTER LIBRARY AND MUSEUM COMMEMORATED: 1-OCT-1986CLASSICAL MODERN

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

46%

PROGRAM ANALYSIS

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

LOCATION: SIMI VALLEY, CA

CONSTRUCTION COST

SIZE: 153,000 SF (NARA: 44,000 SF)

0.6

Online visits, m(adjusted for inflation)

VISITORS (2013)$101,400,000 460,000

2,922TERM

DAYS

0 50k 100k 150k 200k

$0 $50m $100m $150m $200m $250m

RONALD REAGAN PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARYAND CENTER FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS

COMMEMORATED: 4-NOV-1991

RANCH STYLE

29%

PROGRAM ANALYSIS

R

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

29%

$$$$$$$$$$$$$

LOCATION: COLLEGE STATION, TX

CONSTRUCTION COST

SIZE: 69,049 SF (NARA: 22,500 SF)

1.0

Online visits, m(adjusted for inflation)

$61,923,000

1,461TERM

DAYS

0 50k 100k 150k 200k

$0 $50m $100m $150m $200m $250m

GEORGE BUSH PRESIDENTIALLIBRARY AND MUSEUM

COMMEMORATED: 6-NOV-1997

PROGRAM ANALYSIS

R1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

31%

VISITORS (2013) 350,000MODERN TRADITIONALIST

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

LOCATION: LITTLE ROCK, AR

CONSTRUCTION COST

SIZE: 152,000 SF (NARA: 49,040 SF)

0.8

Online visits, m(adjusted for inflation)

$184,000,000

2,922TERM

DAYS

0 50k 100k 150k 200k

$0 $50m $100m $150m $200m $250m

WILLIAM J. CLINTON PRESIDENTIAL CENTER AND PARK

COMMEMORATED: 18-NOV-2004

PROGRAM ANALYSIS

D1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

28%

VISITORS (2013) 525,000NEO-STRUCTURALIST/ ENVIRONMENTAL

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

LOCATION: DALLAS, TX

CONSTRUCTION COST

SIZE: 207,000 SF (NARA: 47,000 SF)

1.6

Online visits, m(adjusted for inflation)

$250,000,000

2,922TERM

DAYS

0 50k 100k 150k 200k

$0 $50m $100m $150m $200m $250m

GEORGE W. BUSH PRESIDENTIAL CENTER COMMEMORATED: 25-APR-2013

PROGRAM ANALYSIS

R1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

23%

VISITORS (2013) 325,000

CLASSICAL

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

LOCATION: CHICAGO, IL

CONSTRUCTION COST

SIZE: 90,000 SF (NARA: 68,500 SF)

5.0

Online visits, m(adjusted for inflation)

$200,000,000

2,177TERM

DAYS

0 50k 100k 150k 200k

$0 $50m $100m $150m $200m $250m

BARACK OBAMAPRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY (BOPL)

COMMEMORATED: 10-MAY-2017

PROGRAM ANALYSIS

D1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

76%

VISITORS (proj.) 600,000+

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

0 50k 100k 150k 200k

81016

5

9

97

73

8

6

4

22

212

10

13

13

1

19

19

1

1

1

15

1514

14

5

7

73

6

4

22

218

14

16

16

16

17

17

5

7

73

6

4

22

218

1

19

12

6

22

2

4

1

1

8

37

79

9

5

10 - PUBLIC GREEN SPACE

11 - RIVER WALK

12 - TRUCK MAINTENANCE STORAGE

13 - FLEXIBLE THEATER SPACE

14 - GENERAL ARCHIVE MATERIALS

15 - SENSITIVE ARCHIVE MATERIALS

16 - TEMPORARY STUDY DESKS

17 - PRIVATE CONFERENCE

18 - MACHINE ROOM / MEP

19 - CAFE

1 - GARAGE / LIVING ROOM

2 - PASSENGER ELEVATOR

3 - SERVICE ELEVATOR

4 - HOUSEKEEPING

5 - SECURITY / STAFF RESTROOM

6 - CAFE REST ROOM

7 - EGRESS

8 - WELCOME / INFO DESK

9 - PERMANENT MEDIA WALL

Ground Floor with Trucks

Treated as a garage condition, the ground floor is sized to provide gallery trucks with ample turn radius for multi-directional entry and exiting. The efficient building footprint maximizes available park space along the river plaza.

N

Each morning, after trucks depart, the garage-space is transformed into an urban living room (above) where visitors may enjoy coffee, attend public lectures, and participate in media installations. In the evening, trucks return to the Archive Building for recharging and restocking. City dwellers are made a part of this nightly spectacle (below), with clear views into the glowing hub floor: curators and archivists weaving in and out of trucks, adjusting content for the next route.

Archive Building During “Recharging and Restocking”

Ground Floor as “Urban Living Room” Typical Open Archive Floor Typical Cellular Archive Floor

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Mobile Gallery Interior

Mobile Gallery Sites

Mobile Gallery Location Legend

Hardship Index:Poverty Level + Crowded Housing +Foreclosures + Unemployment

Mobile Gallery Visit to Chicago Public School

More than a container of exhibits, the Mobile Archive is a forum of social-urban interaction. The electrically-powered pop-up trucks broadcast content indiscrimi-nately across Chicago’s 77 community areas: from engaging tourists within the Loop , to serving the underserviced neighborhoods of South Side, and recently closed public schools and libraries . Through demonstrations of sustainable practices , campaigns for medical awareness , and the promotion of smart consumption , a matrix of knowledge and participation is built. Given Obama’s storied record as a community organizer, this New Mobile Strategy puts access ahead of social class, change above permanence, and communication above the proclamations of a singular voice.

Once stationed, the 8’ wide trailer bed folds out to a 24’ x 40’ gallery floor (~1000sf). Moveable partitions offer a variety of curatorial possibilities, and can accommodate a classroom of 60 students. Fit out with interactive touch-screens and immersive web applications, the Mobile Archives are meant to create new dialogues and subjectivities.

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