Home Court

Home Court is a 60,000-square-foot athletic and events space designed to strengthen the entire community and motivate people of all ages. It offers programs inspired by President Obama's belief in the power of sports, mentorship, and connection. These expansive programs focus on well being and health, life and leadership skills, career exploration, and relationship building. “Throughout our history, sports has had this power to bring us together, even when the country is divided.” President Barack Obama
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An exterior shot of Home Court at the Obama Presidential Center on a snowy night. Behind Home Court is the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry.
Credit: Angie McMonigal

What to do at Home Court 

  • Main Court

    Channel your love of sports on our NBA-regulation sized basketball court! Main Court features several practice courts and accessible seating.

  • Flexible programming spaces

    Need space for your guests to collaborate or brainstorm?  Explore one of our flexible programming rooms, designed for community programming, wellness workshops, and special events.

Our Home Court values

  • Teamwork

    Home Court is committed to being a good steward of our global community and our local neighbors in Chicago. Home Court's programming enhances existing campus initiatives, bringing people from diverse backgrounds together in a spirit of community.

  • Resilience

    The Obama Foundation values the ability to "navigate challenge and change." Home Court is where we put this value into action. Through partnerships with local and national organizations, we will host events and programs focused on building self-confidence and practical skills. 

    From art classes to athletic initiatives, Home Court offers activities that help people of all ages develop essential problem-solving abilities.

  • Leadership

    Sports leadership is about more than making shots. Programming at Home Court explores a breadth of opportunities to open young people’s eyes beyond the playing field. 

    We provide young people with career development training and mentorship, equipping them with real-world insight and direct connections to industry professionals.

A rendering of decorative white tables and chairs on the exterior of the Obama Presidential Center.

Host a Wedding or Special Event

The Obama Presidential Center was thoughtfully designed to serve the community with programming and event space rentals, for personal, local, national and even global needs.

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The Making of Home Court

The Obama Foundation Home Court’s design is inspired by two of President Obama’s personal passions – basketball and building community – with a sleek metal and fritted glass panel exterior inspired by the pattern and form of a basketball net as a metaphor for community connection. 

This building is also designed in line with the Foundation’s sustainability goals and is heated and cooled primarily through the use of geothermal energy.

Home Court was designed by Moody Nolan, the largest Black-owned architecture firm in the United States, known for award-winning community and athletic centers across the country. Moody Nolan later joined the design-build team led by Elevate Design Build Group, a joint venture led by BOWA Construction with its minority interest partner AECOM/Hunt.

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Programs at the Center

Take a look at the performances, activities, and classes happening across the campus.
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My Brother’s Keeper

What began as a call to action to address opportunity gaps for boys and young men of color has now become a movement.
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