Obama Presidential Library

At the heart of the Obama Presidential Center, architecture and storytelling come together in a breathtaking display. Designed by Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects, the Center’s facade features a monumental quote from President Obama’s speech commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Selma to Montgomery marches. Each word is cast into custom UHPC letter panels, creating an architectural expression intended to endure for generations.

To realize the design team’s vision, Envel manufactured 39 custom UHPC panels containing 458 cast letters that now form the iconic speech screen crowning the Center’s tower. Over nearly five years, Envel collaborated with architects, engineers, and project partners to transform the historic speech into a permanent architectural element visible across the skyline and Chicago’s South Side.

We played a crucial role in realizing the Obama Library, delivering the architects’ bold aesthetic demands and the project’s long-term performance goals.

• Custom UHPC Letter Panels – Envel produced every panel using an architectural-grade UHPC mix known for its high compressive strength, low porosity, and long-term durability—essential in Chicago’s challenging climate.
• Precision Engineering – Advanced modeling and engineering analysis enabled the creation of letterforms and geometries never before achieved in concrete.
• Collaborative Craftsmanship – Partnering with Fine Concrete for mold design, Envel ensured every letter maintained sharp, consistent definition across panels.
• Commitment to Sustainability – The durability and low maintenance of UHPC contribute to the Obama Presidential Center’s broader sustainability goals.

The result is more than a wall of words—it’s a timeless testament to perseverance, progress, and the power of remembrance.

Behind the Letters at Obama’s Presidential Center

Creating the monumental panels for the Obama Presidential Museum required extraordinary attention to detail:

• 52 Unique Molds –  Custom templates and mold systems ensured the seamless connection of full and partial letters.
• 458 Giant Letters – 4’ 4” tall letters incorporated into 39 unique panels ranging in size from 9’ x 20’ to 15’ x 30’. The letterforms omit Q and Z, staying true to the original quote’s composition.
• Monumental Panels – Each panel measures between 20 to 30 feet tall and 9 to 13 feet wide, weighing from 11,000 to 20,000 pounds, with a depth of one foot.
• Custom Typeface – The panels feature a Gothic typeface originally used during President Obama’s 2008 campaign, adding a layer of narrative to the structure.
• Precision Installation – Painstaking laser scanning of each completed panel and its attachment points was incorporated over a laser scan model of the building to ensure proper fitment. 
• Integrated Structural Systems – Stainless steel embeds and brackets, custom-fabricated by Envel, securely and elegantly hold the panels in place.
• Continuous Composition – Beyond fabrication, the panels had to be precisely aligned during installation so visitors would experience the speech as one continuous architectural expression rather than 39 individual pieces.

With each casting cycle taking 5 to 7 days and production spanning over 15 months, every letter panel embodies careful planning, artistic precision, and engineering innovation.