An opening timeline has been announced for the upcoming Obama Presidential Center at 6000 South Stony Island Avenue in Jackson Park. Located on the west end of the park near the Midway Plaisance, the center has been in the works for nearly a decade, having first been announced in 2015.
Obama Center November 2024 – Photo by Daniel Schell
Obama Center May 2025 – Photo by Daniel Schell
Led by the Obama Foundation and designed by Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects, the large campus is scheduled to open in June 2026, as announced by Obama himself this week. The center will be anchored by a 225-foot-tall monolithic tower clad in granite, which will house the first fully digital presidential library, sourced from an off-site archive.
Obama Presidential Center. Rendering by Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects
The mostly complete tower will also include a reading room stocked with books curated by the Obamas as well as various exhibition spaces. These will feature the center’s permanent exhibit on the 2008 and 2012 elections, along with temporary exhibits—including one focusing on Michelle Obama’s dresses as part of the opening, according to Block Club.
Obama Presidential Center. Rendering by Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects
Obama Presidential Center. Rendering by Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects
The surrounding structures will include a new Chicago Public Library branch with a recording studio, community gathering spaces, creative areas, dining options, and more. The entire campus will be tied together by gardens, plazas, a sledding hill, playgrounds, rooftop parks, and a stormwater-treatment wetland with a walking path.
Obama Presidential Center. Rendering by Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects
Anchoring the south end of the campus will be the new Home Court athletic facility. Inside, it will feature a small arena surrounding a basketball court, practice spaces, event spaces, and additional fitness rooms to be shared with nearby schools. This building was designed by Moody Nolan and is also expected to open next year.
Rendering of The Home Court at the Obama Presidential Center by Moody Nolan
Home Court May 2025 – Photo by Daniel Schell
Overall, the $850 million center is privately funded and broke ground in 2021. Its opening represents a major transformation for the area, which has already seen rising real-estate costs. Additional proposals have begun to appear nearby, including a 300-foot-tall hotel at 6402 South Stony Island Avenue.
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Congratulations ! I ’m excited and looking forward to the grand opening ,)
I drove by the site recently, it’s an impressive development. I do get the point of the park preservationists, as watching this being built is somewhat jarring, but maybe in 50 years it will blend in better?
Yea, wish the overall footprint of the park they created used less concrete and kept more of the mature trees. Hopefully when it matures it looks less invasive.
The removal of an entire road will be a massive improvement in future park use.
Seeing Cornell Dr. on Google Maps being turned into a footpath and new green space brings roughly 4+ acres of unpaved surfaces.
I have never been to Chicago, now I’m looking forward to visitng.
I’ve been watching it go up as I golf at the nearby Jackson golf course. The monolithe is looking better than I anticipated and all the ancillary facilities are wonderful additions to the neighborhood. This could be a winner after all!
Such a cool building. I love monoliths. Can’t wait to see it from the inside too.
It’s… fine. I’m a lot more excited about the 26 story hotel slated to rise nearby.
I still think it’s ugly. This never should have been built on Parkland! Olmstead must have turned over in his grave millions of times.
not a fan of the monolith – waiting until the granite sides slide off. hoping no one gets hurt. remember the standard oil bldg’s “oops”? the auxiliary spaces will be nice – just sad it took out parkland and trees and is named after someone who’ll only show up to cut the ribbon.
The original facade was marble, and acid rain was largely responsible for the deterioration. Other factors contributed to the degradation, but granite can withstand much more hostile weather than marble.
Don’t have to like the architecture, but don’t spread false hypotheticals.
Congratulations,,, the city of Chicago gets another tourist attraction!!! What an amazing addition to the city..