Oakland Cemetery visitor’s center draws social media criticism

By Collin Kelley

A new visitor’s center planned outside the main west gate of historic Oakland Cemetery in Grant Park has received flack on social media from those unhappy with the building’s design.

Historic Oakland Foundation said the visitor’s center, designed by Smith Dalia Architects, will include a museum store, an atrium that will host interpretive exhibits, flexible multipurpose classroom and event space, rentable meeting space, and offices for the organization.

But it’s the exterior of the 10,000 square foot visitor’s center – clad in red brick as homage to the cemetery’s walls and walkways – that has drawn criticism since renderings of the austere structure were released to the media.

Commenters on Facebook and Instagram called the visitor’s center “boring,” “uninspired” and even “ugly,” and urged Historic Oakland to go back to the