Obama Presidential Center: DEI-linked Firm’s Racial Lawsuit Slammed as Baseless

FIRST ON FOX: The Obama Presidential Center finds itself at the center of controversy, as a New York-based engineering firm, Thornton Tomasetti, firmly denies allegations of racial discrimination in a $40.75 million lawsuit brought against it by a Black-owned subcontractor. The firm labeled the accusations as "baseless smears" against their professional critique of the subcontractor's work.

The subcontractor, II In One Concrete, alleges that Thornton Tomasetti acted with racial bias when addressing issues such as cracked concrete and exposed rebar at the 19.3-acre site in Chicago's Jackson Park. The project, initially estimated at $350 million, has seen its costs balloon to $830 million. A grand vision to honor former President Barack Obama’s legacy, the library will include a 235-foot tower museum, a Chicago Public Library branch, and conference facilities among other features.

Thornton Tomasetti, however, has doubled down on its criticism, stating that II In One Concrete was "questionably qualified" and inexperienced for the project. The subcontractor claims the firm’s professional scrutiny amounts to racial bias and is seeking compensation for additional corrective work it says drove the company to the brink of bankruptcy.

In a motion to dismiss filed on Tuesday, Thornton Tomasetti argued that the lawsuit lacks "a shred of factual support" and accused II In One of leveraging its minority status to make these claims. The firm’s attorneys stated, "Professional criticism, without more, is not racism," a line that could easily find its way onto bumper stickers everywhere.

The Obama Foundation, which oversees the privately funded project, had initially set out diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) goals requiring 35% of subcontractors to be minority-owned. II In One was part of a joint venture team with 51% minority-led representation. Thornton Tomasetti maintains that minority status doesn’t exempt subcontractors from scrutiny or adherence to project specifications.

The lawsuit hinges on a memo Thornton Tomasetti sent to the Obama Foundation last year, where it detailed construction challenges and defended its own services. II In One alleges that the memo led to unpaid dues of $40.75 million, further exacerbating their financial woes.

Robert McGee, owner of II In One Concrete, argues the firm was unfairly singled out due to race, despite its impressive 40-year track record. McGee claims Thornton Tomasetti imposed rebar spacing requirements beyond industry standards, a move he says was discriminatory. Thornton Tomasetti countered that these requirements were part of the bid documents and contract specifications, not arbitrary changes.

The firm also highlighted other deficiencies in II In One’s work, which it says were ignored in the lawsuit. Thornton Tomasetti’s attorneys remarked, "Plaintiffs cannot simply pluck one of TT’s many criticisms of their work and hoist it up as self-evident discrimination." Ouch!

The Obama Foundation has stated it is not a party to the lawsuit and assured the public that it would act swiftly against any racist intent if proven. The center itself, expected to open next year, will feature digitized documents from Obama’s presidency, a gymnasium, and even an NBA regulation-sized basketball court. It’s worth noting that the privately funded center operates independently from the official presidential library system, giving it more design and operational freedom.

The drama surrounding the lawsuit is unlikely to derail the project’s timeline, but it certainly adds a twist to what was supposed to be a celebration of progress and inclusion. Thornton Tomasetti’s motion to dismiss suggests that they’re standing their ground, aiming to shut the door on what they call "outrageous propositions." Whether the courts agree remains to be seen.