Obama Presidential Center Ultimate Construction Recap Update: A look at 2025 so far
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Picture this: It’s August 2026, and you've just arrived at the Obama Presidential Center. As you walk across the campus, you look ahead and see children laughing as they enjoy a game of tag on the Great Lawn. As you wind through new walking paths among lush landscape, you hear the vibrant sounds of a card game being played at a table on the John Lewis Plaza. And as you round the corner of the Playground you can just make out a group of teenagers shooting hoops at Home Court as the sun reflects off the building’s metal panels.
This is the Obama Presidential Center vision and we can't wait to share it with you.
We’re eight months into 2025 and gearing up to welcome visitors to the 19.3-acre South Side Chicago campus. As we inch closer toward opening, construction crews are working tirelessly to build a new home for hope. From winding pathways through lush native landscaping to an inclusive playground, the Presidential Center is taking shape in real time. Read below to learn about progress in 2025.
The Obama Presidential Center Museum Building
At the heart of the Obama Presidential Center campus is the Museum Building, an immersive space where visitors will have the opportunity to dive into the history of the Obamas and the extraordinary people who helped shape their legacy. The construction team has made exciting strides on the Museum Building, continuing granite and glass installations on the exterior of the building. The exterior also features a one-of-a-kind glass art installation by Julie Mehretu, entitled “Uprising of the Sun (Opens in a new tab).”
Inside, contractors have begun exhibition installations across several floors. When open, the Museum will feature exhibits showcasing important moments in President Obama’s administration, memorabilia from his campaigns, and stories from inside the White House. Work across other levels of the Museum will feature films, interactive displays, and an 88 foot tall media installation, Power of Words (Opens in a new tab).
At the very top of the Museum building sits the Sky Room, which is free and accessible to all. There, visitors can take in views of Jackson Park, the Museum of Science and Industry and Lake Michigan. Construction crews are currently framing the walls around the sloped cone ceiling while completing granite installation around windows in the adjoining Sky Room Vista. Stay tuned for a tremendous art installation in this space!
Eleanor Roosevelt Fruit & Vegetable Garden
Hear from members of the South Side as they share excitement about the upcoming Presidential Center
Atop the newest branch of the Chicago Public Library will be the Eleanor Roosevelt Fruit and Vegetable Garden, a community-centered space named after one of the country’s most beloved First Ladies. Last month, the hardscape for the Garden took shape, with new retaining walls outlining the garden planting zone and picnic area. Gravel beds were laid nearby to connect the Garden walkways with 3.5 miles of new walking paths across the campus. Additionally, solar panels on the roof of the Garden Pavilion are set and ready to help power the campus.
Home Court at the Obama Presidential Center
A sneak peek at what’s to come at Home Court
At Home Court —a center for sports and play— drywall is nearly complete, and in the building’s two-story entry lobby, temporary handrails have been added to the stairs. The lobby also features a steel staircase: once completed, these stairs will be painted and finished with terrazzo tile. Inside Main Court, our NBA regulation-size gymnasium, the ceiling and walls are getting their first coats of paint.
This is a little sneak peek into what’s happening across the campus today. Keep an eye out for more updates as we build the Obama Presidential Center!
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