Julie Mehretu's 83-Foot Glass Tower Transforms Obama Presidential Center

The Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, designed by Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects, began shaping its defining structure--a granite-clad tower housing a monumental art installation. Julie Mehretu's Uprising of the Sun, an 83-foot-tall glass tower, has been mounted on the north facade of the building. Comprising 35 painted glass panels, the piece reflects Mehretu's exploration of historical movements like the Civil Rights era and Chicago's own role in shaping social change. Inspired by fi...