Construction update Jan 2022: ringing in the new year with geothermal wells
- Building the Center
- Chicago
- Sustainability
January 14, 2022 Obama Foundation
Construction is complete on caissons to support the underground parking garage. Meanwhile, construction of caissons for the Museum, Forum, and Library buildings continues and, as of today, they are approximately 45 percent complete.
Drilling for geothermal wells is nearly complete, and work to connect the wells through a series of lateral ducts is about a third of the way finished. Late next week, work will begin on earth retention and sheeting, which is the process of protecting the building foundations from water and pressure from nearby Lake Michigan and the Lagoon.
January 5, 2022 Obama Foundation Update
The construction of the Obama Presidential Center rang in the new year by continuing to make progress with the drilling of caissons and other below-grade work. All of the future underground garage caissons are complete, and work on the future Museum Building’s caissons is underway. Earth retention work is planned to start in the next week or so, and the number of construction workers being employed is steadily increasing to a current daily average of approximately 75 persons working on the site in some capacity every work day. To date, more than 40 percent of the total worker hours expended to help build the Obama Presidential Center have been performed by residents of the South and West Sides of Chicago.
Follow Along
Sign up for our new Obama Presidential Center Explorer email series and come along for the journey as we build the Center. We’ll have exclusive updates and previews all the way through our Grand Opening in 2026.
More construction updates
- The Center
- Building the Center
Get a glimpse into the construction work happening at the Obama Presidential Center campus.
Learn more 
- The Center
- Building the Center
Have you been keeping up with our Construction Updates? Here's our big 2025 mid-year recap!
Learn more 
- Building the Center
- Sustainability
Celebrate Sustainability Month with us and take a look at the latest developments at the Presidential Center
Learn more 
- Building the Center
- Chicago
Get a peek at the basketball hoop-shaped exterior wedge walls.
Learn more 
- Building the Center
- Chicago
The Home Court at the Obama Presidential Center was topped out —which means the steel skeleton of the building is complete!
Learn more 
- Building the Center
- Chicago
The Home Court at the Obama Presidential Center was topped out —which means the steel skeleton of the building is complete!
Learn more 
- Building the Center
- Chicago
Get a peek at the steel framing for the athletics facility, museum building stone installation and an update on the latest artwork.
Learn more 
- Building the Center
- Chicago
Concrete construction across the site is complete. The Sky Room and Oval Office are taking shape.
Learn more 
- Building the Center
- Chicago
The Museum Building at the Obama Presidential Center has reached its final height of 225 feet.
Learn more 
- Building the Center
- Chicago
Check out the latest construction update at the Obama Presidential Center.
Learn more 
- Building the Center
- Chicago
See the latest photos and stay up-to-date on the building process.
Learn more 
- Building the Center
- Chicago
The days may be getting cooler, but things are heating up at the Obama Presidential Center!
Learn more 
- Building the Center
- Chicago
Construction has reached the third floor, where a reconstruction of the Obama Oval Office will be on exhibit.
Learn more 
- Building the Center
- Chicago
It has been a season of great progress! The height of the stair and elevator wells have passed the halfway-point of the building.
Learn more 
- Building the Center
- Chicago
Work on the Museum building has reached an exciting milestone with the placement of the street level deck to form the concrete floor at this level.
Learn more 
- Building the Center
- Chicago
Major structural work on the underground parking garage is complete!
Learn more 
- Building the Center
- Chicago
As the Center continues to take shape, we are thrilled to reach a new milestone in its construction.
Learn more 
- Building the Center
- Chicago
Construction at The Center has picked up considerably since the holidays, aided by the unseasonably mild weather.
Learn more 
- Building the Center
- Chicago
As construction of the Obama Presidential Center enters its second year, the focus is almost entirely on concrete.
Learn more 
- Building the Center
- Chicago
The organization is on track to meet its ambitious workforce and business diversity goals for construction.
Learn more 
- Building the Center
- Chicago
The majority of columns for the lower level of the parking garage have been cast and construction of the concrete walls is nearly complete.
Learn more 
- Building the Center
- Barack Obama
Watch as President Obama surprises the construction crew and tours the site.
Learn more 
- Building the Center
- Chicago
Mass excavation and earth retention is complete and the focus is now squarely on concrete operations.
Learn more 
- Building the Center
- Chicago
Two tower cranes were installed to facilitate the construction of the Garage and Museum Building.
Learn more 
- Building the Center
- Chicago
A metal perimeter around the subterranean level of the main buildings and parking garage will prevent water from infiltrating the buildings.
Learn more 
- Building the Center
- Chicago
Progress on constructing the Obama Presidential Center continues with relatively few inclement weather delays.
Learn more 
- Building the Center
- Chicago
Drilling began for the first caissons that will support the underground parking garage.
Learn more 
- Building the Center
- Chicago
This event will bring members of the disabilities community up to speed on the current approach to inclusive design at the OPC.
Learn more 
- Building the Center
- Barack Obama
Mayor Lightfoot and Governor Pritzker joined President and Mrs. Obama for the ceremony, each sharing remarks.
Learn more 
- Building the Center
- Chicago
Roadway improvements will continue and construction will begin within the 19.3 acre site of the Center that sits within Jackson Park.
Learn more 
- Building the Center
- Chicago
Expect lane closures as preparatory work to remove the existing median on Cornell Drive and install a new one begins.
Learn more