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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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 2025

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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A massive crane stands high above a construction site.
  • Chicago
  • Stories
Construction update May 2023: concrete on repeat

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.

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A construction site with scaffolding, concrete and rebar. Two people wear neon yellow and hard hats on the right side.
  • Chicago
  • Stories
Construction update April 2023: meeting a parking garage milestone

Major structural work on the underground parking garage is complete!

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Dina Griffin, a Black woman with a light medium skin tone, holds a closed lip smile. She has shoulder length hair and is wearing a drop pearl necklace. An Illinois flag and an American flag are in the background.
  • Chicago
  • Watch
Meet the Chicago native building the Presidential Center

Hear from a South Side native and architect building the Obama Presidential Center.

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Crystal Moten, PhD, a Black woman with brown locs and a medium deep skin tone, smiles at the camera. She is wearing an orange blouse, blue beaded necklace, and red lipstick. In the background is a plant and gray curtain
  • Chicago
  • Community Engagement
Meet the lead curator of the Obama Presidential Center

Meet the women behind the Obama Presidential Center

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Two construction workers wearing bright orange and yellow vests and white hard hats appear to unload planks of wood. They stand in a cavernous room of concrete filled with insulation and other building materials.
  • Chicago
  • Stories
Construction update March 2023: Library and Forum trade work begins

As the Center continues to take shape, we are thrilled to reach a new milestone in its construction.

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A woman with a medium-deep skin tone wearing an orange, gray, and yellow construction jacket and helmet looks up toward the sky while on a construction site. There are cranes in the background.
  • Chicago
  • Equality
Meet the local talent building the Obama Presidential Center

Learn how we're getting local residents involved in the building trades.

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A building being constructed of concrete at the Obama Presidential Center. Beams and rebar can be seen in scaffolding. A worker is wearing orange and working in the background. The sky is gray.
  • Chicago
  • Stories
Construction update Jan. 2023: mild weather and a strong start to 2023

Construction at The Center has picked up considerably since the holidays, aided by the unseasonably mild weather.

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A large visual of "2022" with blue and green ombre numbers and white background.
  • Stories
  • Programs
Inspiring hope. Taking action.

As we reflect on this year, we couldn’t be more proud of the work of our global network of leaders who are tackling some of the most vital issues of our time and working together to strengthen their communities and our institutions.

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A wide shot of the construction on the site of the Obama Presidential Center in the daytime.
  • Chicago
  • Stories
Construction update Sept. 2022: Year two begins

As construction of the Obama Presidential Center enters its second year, the focus is almost entirely on concrete.

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  • Chicago
  • Community Engagement
Construction update Aug. 2022: first workforce report released

The organization is on track to meet its ambitious workforce and business diversity goals for construction.

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A person wearing a hoodie with the hood up is shown in profile, crouching down to light a candle. She is seen in profile in the glow of candlelight coming from dozens of votives surrounded by assorted flowers. A set of small votive candles are arranged in the shape of a heart near the person’s foot. Six heart-shaped red balloons float above the vigil.
  • The Center
  • First Look
Future water garden to honor Ann Dunham, be graced by Maya Lin sculpture

Join other Obama alumni in coming together to support the naming of the Water Garden at the Obama Presidential Center in honor of the life and legacy of President Obama’s mother, Ann Dunham—as a gift for the President’s 61st birthday.

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A construction site showing scaffolding and rebar
  • Chicago
  • Stories
Construction update July 2022: casting columns and concrete

The majority of columns for the lower level of the parking garage have been cast and construction of the concrete walls is nearly complete.

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People wearing neon yellow safety gear gather around Barack Obama as he shakes hands with a woman in the center. A white tarp is behind them.
  • Barack Obama
  • Chicago
Construction update June 2022: President Obama stops by

Watch as President Obama surprises the construction crew and tours the site.

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A wide view of a construction site with metal pilings and rebar.
  • Chicago
  • Stories
Construction update May 2022: digging deep

Mass excavation and earth retention is complete and the focus is now squarely on concrete operations.

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An animation shows people ranging of all ages and skin tones, enjoying the Obama Presidential Center
  • Michelle Obama
  • Watch
The Eleanor Roosevelt fruit & vegetable garden honors a truly groundbreaking first lady

From our earliest days of planning, we always knew we wanted to have a Fruit & Vegetable Garden at the future Obama Presidential Center

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In a room full of warm, dappled sunlight, former First Lady Michelle Obama leans down to hug her mother, Marian Robinson. Mrs. Robinson has her face against Mrs. Obama's, and embraces her with her hand.
  • Michelle Obama
  • Watch
For Mother’s Day, Michelle Obama announces a special honor for her mom Marian Robinson

Learn more about Michelle Obama's mother, Marian Robinson, and how she will be honored at the Obama Presidential Center.

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A construction site with concrete and scaffolding. A building is at the center with a red scaffold in the middle.
  • Chicago
  • Stories
Construction update April 2022: Cranes are up

Two tower cranes were installed to facilitate the construction of the Garage and Museum Building.

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A construction site filled with mud and concrete. Large metal tubing is on either side and a wood staircase is in the back center of the frame.
  • Chicago
  • Stories
Construction update March 2022: Earth retention work is complete

A metal perimeter around the subterranean level of the main buildings and parking garage will prevent water from infiltrating the buildings.

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A man with a light medium toned and a mix of white and grey hair, works on a wooden piece of art. His face is covered by a plastic face mask.
  • The Arts
  • In-depth
Richard Hunt: inspiring us all to take flight

World-renowned sculptor and artist Richard Hunt was born and raised in the Woodlawn neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago.

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An illustration of four people with a range of light to deep skin tones lifting one another up on top of a paper plane. The background is pink.

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