Former President Barack Obama returned to Chicago on Monday to celebrate a construction milestone for the Presidential Center in Jackson Park on Chicago's South Side.
According to a news release from the Obama Foundation, President Obama attended a “topping-out ceremony” to celebrate the completion of the world's tallest building. Prior to the ceremony, President Obama met with young people to discuss programs they would like to see at the museum and on campus.
The center, scheduled to open in 2026, will feature athletic facilities, program and event facilities, an auditorium, a branch of the Chicago Public Library and fruit and vegetable gardens.
The four-story museum building will feature exhibit galleries that “tell the story of President and First Lady Obama, the stories of the extraordinary and ordinary people who made that story possible, the story of their historic presidency, and inspire visitors to learn about the role they can play to bring about change at home.”
Most recently, in March, the Presidential Center broke ground on a new athletic, program and events facility dubbed “Home Court,” scheduled to open in 2025.
After five years of legal battles, concerns about gentrification and federal review, construction began in August 2021. Through partnerships with local businesses, community members and organizations, the expansive project is expected to bring more than $3 million in economic activity to the area, according to the Obama Foundation.
