Construction progress continues for Home Court at the Obama Presidential Center on Stony Island Avenue in Jackson Park. The two-story athletic facility designed by Moody Nolan is expected to be the first entity of the sprawling campus to open to the public, with an anticipated ribbon cutting late this year. Elevated Design Builders, a team formed by BOWA Construction and AECOM/Hunt, is the general contractor.
Rendering of The Home Court at the Obama Presidential Center by Moody Nolan
Rendering of new Obama Presidential Center Programs & Athletics Center by Moody Nolan
SIte context of The Home Court, at Stony Island Avenue and 62nd Street, via Google Maps
A caisson permit was issued by the City of Chicago for Home Court on December 22, 2023. That was followed by a permit for the full building, which came through on September 26 of last year. The reported construction cost on those two permits is a combined $81 million. A permit to add install a passenger elevator was issued on February 11 of this year.
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
The facility will most notably contain a regulation NBA-sized basketball court surrounded by spectator seating, including mezzanine seating for an elevated view of the action, and practice courts. Spaces will be available for visitors to engage in fitness and social activities, including banquets and meetings. Programming will be catered towards youths as well as adults. Students from Hyde Park Academy High School, located on the west side of Stony Island Avenue, and Mount Carmel High School, located two blocks southwest, will be particularly well situated for access to the arena.
Photo by Daniel Schell
Looking north, the Obama Presidential Center Museum Tower rises above Home Court. Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
There are myriad ways to reach the Obama Presidential Center using public transportation. Stops for CTA bus Routes 2, 6, 15, 28, 59, 63, 171, and 172 are all within a two-block walk of Jackson Park. The Metra Electric train has stations at 59th Street and 63rd Street, with the South Shore Line also stopping at 63rd.
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Ian will return June 3. In the meantime….extra construction updates.
April Fools and change the website to Building Up Chicago.
Yet another recreational facility with “community event space” and basketball courts for the south side. Yay
Yet another pointless comment that added nothing to the discussion.
Yay
If teenagers end up using it isn’t that a good thing for the city? The city is not saturated with parks or free activities for a non adult.