Norman Teague — the Obama Center benches

The Center opened on Juneteenth and the room went straight to the 225-foot tower. The thing worth keeping is nine walnut benches. Ten years on the project — consultant first, designer second. Wood joints based on Adinkra symbols; grains chosen in the beige, brown and black of his own neighborhood; ridges that read as ornament but are there so elders can push themselves up; seat depths varied for different bodies. He argued a South Side build should employ South Siders and ended up one of them. This is ROOM'S RIGHT — the heat is earned, it's just aimed at the building. Next up: affordable-housing prototypes, and curating Lagos Design Week 2027.