Construction update Feb. 2025: Home Court at the OPC takes shape

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.

At Home Court, the first layer of purple insulation has been installed, which makes it easier to recognize the basketball hoop-shaped exterior wedge walls that will eventually be clad in metal. Framing is now underway for the giant spans of exterior glass, as subfloor and structural work continues for Levels 1 and 2. At the lower level of Home Court, crews are working on mechanical, electrical, and plumbing around where the loading dock, catering kitchen and storage will be located.

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.

Pink panels of insulation on the Library, Forum, and parking garage rooftops this week added a hint of Valentine’s Day at the otherwise predominantly earth-toned construction zone at the Obama Presidential Center site. This pastel colored insulation will eventually be covered by trees, grass, and other plants, transforming these hard-edged rooftops into lush grounds for visitors to enjoy for generations to come.

At the east side of the site, new curved retaining walls and pathways continue to define green spaces like the Wetland Walk and Entry Court. White blocks of geofoam are being added at the back of the Forum building to support winding walkways leading to the rooftop. Meanwhile at the north end of campus, a section of a round retaining wall has been poured around the perimeter of the Women’s Garden, which will be more sustainable and accessible than its original iteration, with ample seating for visitors.

Construction workers wearing bright yellow or orange shirts and hard hats look down at horizontal rows of reddish wooden beams laid out uniform rows. In the distance, other workers walk on plywood boards that sit on top of the beams.

Inside, work on the subfloor for the Museum Exhibit Galleries continues. The floor is a bit like a layer cake with the concrete slab, moisture layer, electrical conduit, a sleeper system to provide stability, and finally plywood on top. The finished hardwood floor that visitors will see will be installed directly on top of the plywood over the course of the next couple of months.

At the Sky Room, the uppermost publicly accessible space on campus, crews are preparing to frame the walls around the signature sloped ceiling. Below, window installation is nearly complete in the Sky Room Vista, the welcome space just outside the Sky Room, where visitors will see unique views of the Museum of Science and Industry, Wooded Island, the lagoon, and Lake Michigan, with downtown Chicago in the distance.

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3D rendering of the Obama Presidential Center Plaza

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More construction updates

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Construction update Jan. 2025: Glass and granite continue to climb

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Construction update Dec. 2024: topping out

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Construction update October 2024: Concrete is complete at the Obama Presidential Center

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Construction update Oct. 2023: Granite panels are going up

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Construction update July 2023: third floor and climbing

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Construction update Sept. 2023: 100 feet and climbing

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Construction update May 2023: concrete on repeat

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Construction update April 2023: meeting a parking garage milestone

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Construction update March 2023: Library and Forum trade work begins

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Construction update May 2022: digging deep

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Construction update April 2022: Cranes are up

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Construction update March 2022: Earth retention work is complete

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Construction update Feb. 2022: getting ready for mass excavation

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Construction update Jan 2022: ringing in the new year with geothermal wells

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Construction update Oct. 2021: hosting a community event for People with Disabilities

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Construction update Sept. 2021: breaking ground

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Construction update June 2021: Median work begins

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