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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We have some exciting developments to share from the construction progress that’s been made across the Obama Presidential Center’s 19.3 acres. Take a look at the impressive work that happened at the Center in October!

The Obama Presidential Center Museum

A photograph of the exterior of the Obama Presidential Center Museum. The Museum is a tall gray building. In front of the building is a plot of green grass. In the background is blue sky.
This is the Obama Presidential Center’s Museum Building from the perspective of the roof of the Forum on the Presidential Center campus. In keeping with the Center’s sustainability efforts, native grasses and sod have been planted across several areas of the campus. A bas relief of vertical stone adds dimension at the southeast corner of the Museum.
A photograph at the exterior design of the Obama Presidential Center Museum. In the background is blue sky.
A closer look at the architectural elements of the Museum Building’s exterior. Now that exterior stone work on the Museum Building is nearly complete, passersby can view some of the primary design elements from below.
A look at the exterior of the Obama Presidential Center Museum at night. The building is dark gray and has several lights shining from the inside.
New streetlights on the west side of campus now line Stony Island Avenue. Interior lights are also visible from outside the campus, offering peeks into spaces.
An image of "Yes We Can," an exhibit in the Obama Presidential Center Museum. The exhibit is a circular enclosure that is white. On the exterior of the enclosure are the words "Yes We Can." Above the exhibit is a black ceiling.
“Yes We Can,” celebrating the 2008 election of President Obama, is one of several exhibits across four levels that will showcase important moments in President Obama’s administration, memorabilia from his campaigns, and stories from inside the White House.

The Forum Building

The photograph is a look at one of the outdoor Courtyards on the Obama Presidential Center campus. The picture is taken from above. Below is a circle of dirt covered by green netting. There are several construction workers standing in the courtyard area. Surrounding the courtyard are several windows and concrete.
Hardscaping is complete on two courtyards on the Forum building’s lower level. Two rounded planting areas are filled with topsoil, surrounded by crushed gravel.
The photograph is a look at the lighting fixture above one of the courtyards on the Obama Presidential Center campus. The picture is taken from below. The lighting fixture is long and rectangular with one long singular light. Next to the lighting fixture is a red crane with two construction workers.
A thin rail of light has been installed to detail the bottom edge of the Forum rooftop.

Chicago Public Library Branch

An image of the President's Reading Room in the Chicago Public Library located on the Obama Presidential Center campus. The picture features several brown bookshelves leaning up to the ceiling. On the ceiling are several white pendant lights, hanging. On the floor is a small black crane and several wood beams stacked on the floor.
The President’s Reading Room in the Chicago Public Library Branch at the Obama President Center’s campus features tall shelves that will hold a non-circulating collection of books and materials curated by President and Mrs. Obama.

Home Court at the Obama Presidential Center

A photograph of Main Court, a gymnasium located in Home Court on the Obama Presidential Center campus. The gymnasium features a wooden backboard in the shape of a basketball net. In the middle of the court is a large black screen separating two sides of the gym. On the floor of the gym is a red crane.
At Home Court, a sports net has been installed at Main Court. This will divide the NBA regulation-size basketball court into two practice courts, allowing for multiple sports or activities to take place simultaneously.
A photograph of the Welcome Desk located in the Lobby of Home Court at the Obama Presidential Center. The desk is covered in plastic and there are two orange cones on either side. Above the desk is a rectangular light fixture with several small lights. On the wall behind the desk are two blank digital screens.
At the Home Court Welcome Desk, two digital screens will greet visitors and let them know about events and programs.
A photograph of construction on the Lobby of Home Court at the Obama Presidential Center. The picture features an image of the Welcome Desk in the Lobby and several construction workers working on the front entrance of the building.
The Lobby at Home Court will feature a seating area for visitors to gather and hang out in between programming and activities.

The Playground

A photograph of the Obama Presidential Center Playground. The image features several swing tires sitting on top of a pebble surface. In the background of the swings are several buildings in the distance. It is daylight outside.
The first layer of rubbery, accessible surfacing has been added to the Playground.
A photograph of the Obama Presidential Center Playground. The image features an outdoor canopy and two silver metal slides that stretch down a hill. In the background is a large dirt mound.
A sail canopy will shade the slides that slope from the upper tree-themed playscape to the lower lagoon-themed space. Elements of the Playground include split logs made from trees on-site and two slides that will run from an upper tree-themed part of the playground to the lower lagoon-themed area.
A photograph of several pieces of equipment for the Obama Presidential Center Playground. The image features a large wooden duck with a green head and a brown, light colored body with blue and dark brown stripes on it.
While crews complete hardscaping and infrastructure at the lower level of the Playground, a Duck slide is ready and waiting for installation.
A photograph of exterior landscaping of the Obama Presidential Center Campus. The picture includes several trees in different stages of growth.
On the Obama Presidential Center site, newly planted trees are beginning to turn various shades of orange, yellow and red in time for Fall.
A photograph of the exterior landscaping of the Obama Presidential Center campus. The image features several trees. In the background is a side view of the Forum. It is sunny outside and the sky is blue.
The campus will feature dozens of native plants and vegetation for visitors to learn about, explore, and enjoy.

This is a sneak peek into what’s happening across the campus today. Keep an eye out for more updates as we build the Obama Presidential Center! 

A map of the Obama Presidential Center campus. The map includes a drawing of the Museum Building, Forum Building, Chicago Public Library, the Garden Pavillon, and Home Court.

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