Construction update Dec. 2024: topping out

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.

On December 9, 2024, the Home Court at the Obama Presidential Center was topped out —which means the steel skeleton of the building is complete! The architects and construction crew celebrated by signing the final beam which was hoisted along with an American flag, into place at the front of the building. At the lower level of the athletic center, crews continue to build concrete walls and install the ducts and wires of the many systems that will allow people to operate the building when it is open.

Further north, granite and window installation continues on the Museum, Forum and Library Buildings. Concrete pathways through the new landscape are being formed and the highest point in the park, the top of the Great Lawn, has been shaped and covered in landscape material.

A massive gravel pathway leading up to an incline, meant to one day be a sledding hill. The sun is just rising or setting in the left side of the photo.
The crest of the Great Lawn and sledding hill as seen looking south toward Home Court, with Hyde Park Academy in the distance.
A construction site with concrete walls surrounding a large dug out area in the ground. The beginnings of walls are being propped up in the ditch with angled poles.
Concrete retaining walls frame the pathways that will lead visitors from the parking garage to the entry court and Plaza beyond.

One of the more visible changes is that the external skips (elevators) have been removed from the Museum building because the internal elevators are now operational. A light box will span most of the area where the skips were.

Inside, crews continue to frame out walls that are revealing the true shapes and sizes of various spaces that visitors will experience.

The interior of a construction site. Steel beams line a tall wall. Multistory windows and an upper level pathway are on each side. Several construction workers can be seen in bright yellow vests and hard hats.
Workers stand at the lower level Our Story space, which is open to the overlook and mezzanine levels above.
A multistory building under construction towers in golden sunlight. Cranes can be seen on each side as well as scaffolding.
The external “skips” (elevators) have been removed from the south face of the Museum Building, where granite installation continues.

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3D rendering of the Obama Presidential Center Plaza

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