The Obama Presidential Center
Virtual tour of the Obama Presidential Center
Visitor experience at the museum
Listen to Dr. Louise Bernard, Director of the Museum at the Obama Presidential Center, share more about what visitors will experience at the museum
Listen to Dr. Louise Bernard (Opens in a new tab)
Take a tour of our future home
Progress and milestones
In 2023, the Obama Presidential Center achieved significant milestones: workers completed substantial structural construction of the parking garage, Chicago Public Library branch, Forum Building, and the Museum Building. The design of the Home Court at the Obama Presidential Center, the athletic center, was also substantially finalized.
To date, we have committed $1.35M to have 645 residents enroll in construction pre-apprenticeship programs.
36% Percentage of spend to date
52% Percentage of hours performed by city of Chicago residents
35% of the workforce hours on the project will be performed by workers from the South and West Side communities.
54% Percentage of contract amounts committed to diverse vendors
38% Percentage of workforce hours performed by South & West Side residents
50% of the construction amounts with be spent with diverse vendors
163 Number of contracts at all tiers to date
385 Number of candidates placed in trade and non trade positions across the city
President Obama gave his stamp of approval for the museum exhibit designs and we're in the process of building our museum collection and producing the exhibits’ films and interactive media. In addition, strides were made in developing the programming strategy and finalizing a slate of incredible artists who will create commissioned artworks for the Obama Presidential Center as we prepare for opening in 2026.
Our construction manager, Clayco, created this 360-degree rotational view of the Museum Building, showing what it looks like currently to what it will look like when it is completed.
Watch the video (Opens in a new tab)
Sustainability at the Obama Presidential Center
Sustainability at The Center
Listen to David Reynolds, Vice President of Operations at the Obama Presidential Center, share more about the Center’s sustainability.
Listen to David Reynolds (Opens in a new tab)
The Home Court at the Obama Presidential Center
Located at the southwest corner of our Jackson Park campus, the Home Court at the Obama Presidential Center will be a hub for vibrant community engagement and enrichment. This 45,000 square foot multipurpose venue will host a range of activities, from youth and adult programs to professional conferences and community events for various organizations.
The design of Home Court at the Obama Presidential Center reflects two of President Obama’s personal passions: basketball and community building. Its sleek metal and fritted glass façade draws inspiration from the pattern of a basketball net, symbolizing community connection. Additionally, the building aligns with the Foundation’s sustainability goals, utilizing geothermal energy for heating and cooling as part of a broader strategy to eliminate fossil fuel use on the campus.
Reflecting the values and mission
Listen to Lori Healey, Senior Vice President and Executive Project Officer at the ObamaPresidential Center, explain how the center’s design and architecture reflect the values and mission.
Listen to Lori Healey (Opens in a new tab)
Local mural initiative
