President Obama visited the Obama Presidential Center construction site on Chicago's South Side to celebrate a major milestone in the center's construction: The museum building, the tallest structure on the 19.3-acre site, reached a height of 225 feet, known in the construction industry as “topping out.”
During his visit, he thanked the construction crew and architects who made this inspiring vision a reality and together with them, signed a piece of the building that will become part of the ceiling in the Sky Room. Located on the top floor of the museum building, the Sky Room will be a place of reflection while taking in spectacular views of Lake Michigan to the east, the skyscrapers of downtown Chicago to the north, and Chicago's South Side to the west and south.
Earlier in the day, President Obama met with area youth to discuss programs they would like to see at the museum and on the Obama Presidential Center grounds.
This groundbreaking moment is part of President Obama's hands-on approach and continues his dedication and active involvement in shaping a transformative experience at the Center. The campus will feature fruit and vegetable gardens, athletic, program and event facilities, a world-class museum, auditorium and a branch of the Chicago Public Library. Additional programming will invite visitors, from the neighborhood and around the world, to bring change home to their hometowns.
To learn more about the center's progress and the amenities it will bring to the Southside community, click here. here.