Building the Center stories

We’re building a welcoming, vibrant campus where people from across the street or from around the globe can come to get inspired, find common ground, and take action.

Monumental painted-glass window, “Uprising of the Sun,” will welcome visitors to the Obama Presidential Center

Julie Mehretu's 83-foot-high installation is inspired by President Obama’s remarks at the 50th anniversary of the marches from Selma to Montgomery.

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President Obama tilts his head upwards along with out-of-focus onlookers. A digital screen shows something out of focus behind him.
  • Watch
  • Barack Obama
See President Obama’s reaction to the museum’s newest (and largest!) exhibit
Get a sneak peek at a four-story digital wall that will celebrate the “Power of Words” and pay homage to the first digital President.
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A gray stone installation climbs up the north and east faces of the Museum Building at the Obama Presidential Center. Blue tarp-wrapped escalator bases are seen through an opening that will eventually be clad in an art glass installation. A clear blue sky is in the background.
  • Chicago
  • Construction blog
Construction update October 2024: Concrete is complete at the Obama Presidential Center
Concrete construction across the site is complete. The Sky Room and Oval Office are taking shape.
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Toryn Parks, a Black woman with a medium skin tone and locs, takes a selfie in her protective gear at the Obama Presidential Center.
  • Stories
  • The Center
Local roofer helps build the Obama Presidential Center
Meet Toryn Parks, a union roofer, tasked with building structure on the 19.3-acre campus.
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President Obama and Michelle Obama, in white hard hats, glasses, and yellow protective vests, tour the Obama Presidential Center site in Chicago, IL on Thursday May 22, 2025.
  • Stories
  • Youth
2025 Obama Foundation Year in Photos
From big milestones at the Obama Presidential Center to global leadership and community impact, 2025 was a year of meaningful progress.
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A look at Main Court. The basketball court features a wood floor with several words written on the floor. In the background are glass windows. To the right is a wood net-themed basketball backboard.
  • The Center
  • First Look
Obama Presidential Center construction update for the end of 2025
Take a sneak peek into construction of the Presidential Center campus including the completion of Home Court.
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An image of Marie Watt's installation, "Thirteen Moons." The image features an installation that is made up of tin jingles hanging from the ceiling. The jingles are silver cones. There are thousands of them. In between the jingles are straps of pink and blue fabric.
  • The Center
  • The Arts
Connecting Community and Culture Through Art: A Look At Obama Presidential Center Artist Marie Watt
Dive into the dynamic world of artist Marie Watt and her collaboration with Nick Cave for the Obama Presidential Center.
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  • The Center
  • First Look
Obama Presidential Center construction update October 2025
Take a behind the scenes look at progress on the Obama Presidential Center campus.
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President Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama hold shovels and smile to camera.
  • The Center
  • Quick Read
How it started, how it’s going: Progress at the Obama Presidential Center
Celebrate the 4th anniversary of the Center’s Groundbreaking and take a look at how far we’ve come.
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An image of the Obama Presidential Center campus with construction. The picture features an aerial view of the entire campus. In the center is the Museum Building with a crane on top. To the left of the Museum Building is a lake and trees. To the right of the building is Jackson Park.
  • The Center
  • First Look
Obama Presidential Center construction update Sept. 2025: Heading into fall
Get a glimpse into the construction work happening at the Obama Presidential Center campus.
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A mockup of Nekisha Durrett's art installation, Hem of Heaven. The image features a long cloak that has an ombre effect of colors featuring shades of blue, purple, gold, yellow, pink, and red.
  • Stories
  • The Arts
Sneak peek: Artwork at the Obama Presidential Center
Discover more than 20 world-renowned artists whose work will appear at the Obama Presidential Center.
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An upward image of the Obama Presidential Center Museum building during construction. The building is made of granite and stone. In the center of the building is "Uprising of the Sun," an art installation created by artist Julie Mehretu. Around the building are large scaffoldings. Behind the building are clouds.
  • The Center
  • First Look
Obama Presidential Center Ultimate Construction Recap Update: A look at 2025 so far
Have you been keeping up with our Construction Updates? Here's our big 2025 mid-year recap!
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A rendering of the Obama Presidential Center campus from the north facing side. At the bottom of the rendering are several planted bushes that surround the area. In the center of the image is the Obama Presidential Center Museum building. The building is made of granite and stone. From the angle of the rendering, the image show the art installation of Julie Mehretu entitled "Uprising of the Sun." The mosaic art installation includes multiple colors and is glass.
  • The Center
  • Equality
The Obama Presidential Center’s Commitment to Accessibility
Explore the Obama Presidential Center’s inclusive design plans
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Seven Obama Foundation employees, with a range of light to dark skin tones, pose for a photo with community members at a street festival.
  • The Center
  • Community Engagement
Obama Presidential Center 77 Neighborhood Tour kicks off!
This summer, join us at your local coffee shop, library, festival, or small business to learn more about the Obama Presidential Center.
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  • Sustainability
  • Construction blog
Construction update April 2025: Celebrate Sustainability Month with us
Celebrate Sustainability Month with us and take a look at the latest developments at the Presidential Center
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The First Family walks with Congressman John Lewis, Reverend Al Sharpton, and marchers from the initial Selma marches to the Edmund Pettus Bridge.
  • Stories
  • Presidential History
Meet the photographer who captured President Obama’s 50th anniversary visit to Selma, AL
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Two bluish purple inverted triangles of wall substructure look to be wedged into the ground on the north face of Home Court, hinting at the shape of the metal panels that will eventually cover this part of the building, and the shape of glass walls between the wedges. In the foreground concrete angular and curved support walls and railings, and contours of geofoam span the landscape where the playground and part of the great lawn will eventually be.
  • Chicago
  • Construction blog
Construction update Feb. 2025: Home Court at the OPC takes shape
Get a peek at the basketball hoop-shaped exterior wedge walls.
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A tall, concrete and stone building under construction towers high into the sky. Scaffolding and a crane can be seen on the sides.
  • Chicago
  • Construction blog
Construction update Jan. 2025: Glass and granite continue to climb
The Home Court at the Obama Presidential Center was topped out —which means the steel skeleton of the building is complete!
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A silver pickup truck is parked in front of steel beams forming the shape of a large building. At the top is an American flag blowing lightly in the wind. A cloudy sky and a large crane can be seen behind the building.
  • Chicago
  • Construction blog
Construction update Dec. 2024: topping out
The Home Court at the Obama Presidential Center was topped out —which means the steel skeleton of the building is complete!
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A large concrete building under construction towers ahead. Burnt-orange scaffolding can be seen running from the bottom to the top, many stories high.
  • Chicago
  • Construction blog
Construction update Nov. 2024: steel, stone, and art
Get a peek at the steel framing for the athletics facility, museum building stone installation and an update on the latest artwork.
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A visual explanation of The Obama Foundation brand motif featuring lines, color, font, and symbols.
  • Education
  • First Look
Building on the past, looking ahead
As the Obama Presidential Center prepares to open its doors in 2026, our brand identity enters a new chapter.
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A group of people with a range of light to dark skin tones pose in front of a banner that reads, “Bring Change Home.”
  • Stories
  • Equality
2024 year in review
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An image of four people with a range of light to dark skin tones, reviewing and looking at the 3D model of the Obama Presidential Center.
  • Community Engagement
  • Chicago
Voices of the community: shaping the Obama Presidential Center
Get to know the inspiring community members behind the Obama Presidential Center
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A closeup of Julie Mehretu’s glass installation, “Uprising of the Sun.”
  • First Look
  • The Arts
Art at the Obama Presidential Center
Discover over 20 art installations that will stimulate creativity and inspire people to bring change home.
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A rendering of the Library at the Obama Presidential Center. People of all ages and ranges of light to deep skin tones read books at different sections of the library.
  • First Look
  • Community Engagement
Sneak peek: the Chicago Public Library at the Obama Presidential Center
This unique partnership is the first of its kind and will feature digital media spaces and educational resources for kids and adults.
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An image of Michelle Obama embracing her mother Marian Robinson. Both women have a medium deep complexion and straight dark hair that hits their shoulders. They are both wearing white.
  • In memoriam
  • Donate
Celebrating the legacy of Marian Robinson
Honoring the legacy of our “First Mother-in-Law”
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On a clear blue-sky day, President Obama stands in a hard hat and a brightly colored safety vest at the Obama Presidential construction site and signs a beam. A large group of construction workers with various skin tones also wearing safety clothing surround him.
  • Chicago
  • Construction blog
Construction update June 2024: President Obama marks the completion of the Museum Building
The Museum Building at the Obama Presidential Center has reached its final height of 225 feet.
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A low angle shot shows workers on an orange basket lift affixing a panel of “Tapestry” stone to the lower west face of the Museum Building. A cloudy sunny sky is in the background.
  • Chicago
  • Stories
Construction update May 2024: The Obama Presidential Center takes shape
Check out the latest construction update at the Obama Presidential Center.
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President Obama is smiling wearing sunglasses, a white hardhat with the Obama Foundation rising sun logo, gloves, and a bright orange safety vest over a long dress coat. He is holding a cup of coffee and standing next to a white woman wearing a neon yellow construction coat, hard hat, and goggles. They are walking in front of three other people with a range of light to deep skin tones wearing orange safety vests and white hard hats. They are all walking in an unfinished building with scaffolding in the background.
  • Chicago
  • Barack Obama
December 8th 2023 – construction update
See the latest photos and stay up-to-date on the building process.
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A rendering of the outside front of Home Court from Stony Island Avenue. It is daylight in the picture. Home Court at the Obama Presidential Center is a large silver and glass building, with large rectangular windows covering the majority of the front of the building and two large inverted silver triangles of metal cladding interrupting the glass on the side. In front of the building are green shrubs and trees planted along a pedestrian walkway. To the left of the building is a large patch of grass surrounded by a pedestrian walkway. To the right of the building are tall green trees. On the pedestrian pathways are several people walking, standing, and sitting. There is a bicycle rack on the pedestrian walkway.
  • First Look
  • Community Engagement
NBA-size courts, gymnasium and community space to open in 2026
See the plans for the 45,000-square-foot multipurpose athletic and events facility coming to the Obama Presidential Center.
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Representative John Lewis and President Barack Obama are sitting in a room together laughing in the middle of a conversation. Representative Lewis is sitting on a couch on the left-hand side of the image with his hands placed on his left knee. He is an older, brown-skinned man with a bald head. He is wearing a blue suit, with a white button-down shirt, and a blue tie. The couch Rep. Lewis is sitting on, is the color brown. President Obama is sitting on the right side of the image in a beige chair. He is wearing a black suit with a blue button-down shirt. His arms are placed on the side of the chair. In the room of the image is a beige coffee table with a large blue book on top of it. On the front of the book is the number, “44.” The room has beige walls with pictures on the left side. On the wall are three pictures: the largest picture features a blue background and the figure of a man’s arms and head; the second largest picture is an image of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. speaking during the March on Washington; the smallest picture is indistinguishable. In the room there is a small brown side table that sits between Rep. John Lewis and President Barack Obama. On the side table is a table lamp with a white lamp shade and two framed pictures.
  • In memoriam
  • Changemakers
Celebrating the enduring legacy of John Lewis and his work with the Obama Foundation
Learn about the work of civil rights icon John Lewis and his influence on President Obama and the Obama Foundation.
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Michelle Obama is sitting at a wood table surrounded by young teens from the Ludzi Girls Secondary School in Malawi. In the image Michelle Obama has braids in her hair and is wearing a gray and black geometric shirt, with a series of gold bangles on her left wrist; she is smiling and clapping her hands together. Sitting on both sides of her and across from her are young teen girls. The two sitting next to her are wearing white button-down shirts. The young girl to her left is clasping his hands and smiling at her. Across from Michelle Obama are the backs of two young teen girls, who are staring at her. Both girls have closely cut hair; the boy on the left of the image is wearing a white button down shirt. The girl on the right of the image is wearing a bright blue collared shirt.
  • Michelle Obama
  • Presidential History
Send a message to Mrs. Obama for her 60th birthday
Learn how Michelle Obama’s legacy is shaping the Obama Presidential Center.
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A view of the Museum Building rising to the sky on the site of the Obama Presidential Center. Cranes are in the sky as work continues on the garage rooftop. Construction equipment is scattered throughout.
  • Chicago
  • First Look
Construction update Oct. 2023: Granite panels are going up
The days may be getting cooler, but things are heating up at the Obama Presidential Center!
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A construction worker in a white hard hat and orange safety vest looks at a structure as he stands on the concrete floor of Museum Building Level 3
  • Chicago
  • Stories
Construction update July 2023: third floor and climbing
Construction has reached the third floor, where a reconstruction of the Obama Oval Office will be on exhibit.
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On a clear day, a crane rises up behind a concrete building that’s under construction. In the foreground sits a rust-colored industrial trash bin and to the right, a construction worker wearing a white hard hat and yellow safety vest looks down at a pile of building material.
  • Chicago
  • Stories
Construction update Sept. 2023: 100 feet and climbing
It has been a season of great progress! The height of the stair and elevator wells have passed the halfway-point of the building.
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Brandon Breaux, a Black man with a deep skin tone, stands over five seated students. On the table is an iPad and illustrations. He is wearing a mint beanie. Space art is on the wall in the background.
  • First Look
  • The Arts
An ode to Chicago: the Obama Presidential Center mural
Artist Brandon Breaux and Dyett High School students showcase the power of culture and community.
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  • First Look
  • Barack Obama
President Obama announces programs wing at the Obama Presidential Center
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