Construction update March 2022: Earth retention work is complete

A construction site filled with mud and concrete. Large metal tubing is on either side and a wood staircase is in the back center of the frame.

March 25, 2022

Earth retention system work has been completed at the Obama Presidential Center site, creating a metal perimeter around the subterranean level of the main buildings and parking garage that will prevent water from infiltrating the buildings. Dewatering continues, draining groundwater from within the footprint of the Museum, Forum, Library and Garage. Mass excavation also began this week, which will create fairly constant movement of trucks in and out of the site on the Cornell Drive side, for the next several weeks.

A large, white plastic water container with the words "Griffin" stamped in red. Two flexible pipes run from the bottom.
A construction site filled with mud and concrete. Large metal tubing is on either side and a wood staircase is in the back center of the frame.

March 4, 2022

The steel sheeting seen below extends 30-35 feet into a thick clay layer beneath the construction site to form the sides of a basin-like structure that will protect the buildings and Garage from the surrounding groundwater. Groundwater captured in the basin will begin, along with the mass excavation of the dirt in this area to allow for pouring the lowest level concrete caisson caps, grade beams, and floor slabs later this Spring.

Snow covers a construction site. A yellow digger can be seen in the background.

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More construction updates

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  • Building the Center
  • Chicago
Construction update October 2024: Concrete is complete at the Obama Presidential Center

Concrete construction across the site is complete. The Sky Room and Oval Office are taking shape.

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  • Building the Center
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Construction update June 2024: President Obama marks the completion of the Museum Building

The Museum Building at the Obama Presidential Center has reached its final height of 225 feet.

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  • Building the Center
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Construction update May 2024: The Obama Presidential Center takes shape

Check out the latest construction update at the Obama Presidential Center.

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December 8th 2023 – construction update

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  • Building the Center
  • Chicago
Construction update Oct. 2023: Granite panels are going up

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  • Building the Center
  • Chicago
Construction update July 2023: third floor and climbing

Construction has reached the third floor, where a reconstruction of the Obama Oval Office will be on exhibit.

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  • Building the Center
  • Chicago
Construction update Sept. 2023: 100 feet and climbing

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  • Building the Center
  • Chicago
Construction update May 2023: concrete on repeat

Work on the Museum building has reached an exciting milestone with the placement of the street level deck to form the concrete floor at this level.

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A construction site with scaffolding, concrete and rebar. Two people wear neon yellow and hard hats on the right side.
  • Building the Center
  • Chicago
Construction update April 2023: meeting a parking garage milestone

Major structural work on the underground parking garage is complete!

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  • Building the Center
  • Chicago
Construction update March 2023: Library and Forum trade work begins

As the Center continues to take shape, we are thrilled to reach a new milestone in its construction.

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A building being constructed of concrete at the Obama Presidential Center. Beams and rebar can be seen in scaffolding. A worker is wearing orange and working in the background. The sky is gray.
  • Building the Center
  • Chicago
Construction update Jan. 2023: mild weather and a strong start to 2023

Construction at The Center has picked up considerably since the holidays, aided by the unseasonably mild weather.

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A wide shot of the construction on the site of the Obama Presidential Center in the daytime.
  • Building the Center
  • Chicago
Construction update Sept. 2022: Year two begins

As construction of the Obama Presidential Center enters its second year, the focus is almost entirely on concrete.

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  • Building the Center
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Construction update July 2022: casting columns and concrete

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  • Building the Center
  • Barack Obama
Construction update June 2022: President Obama stops by

Watch as President Obama surprises the construction crew and tours the site.

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A wide view of a construction site with metal pilings and rebar.
  • Building the Center
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Construction update May 2022: digging deep

Mass excavation and earth retention is complete and the focus is now squarely on concrete operations.

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  • Building the Center
  • Chicago
Construction update April 2022: Cranes are up

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A construction site filled with mud and concrete. Large metal tubing is on either side and a wood staircase is in the back center of the frame.
  • Building the Center
  • Chicago
Construction update March 2022: Earth retention work is complete

A metal perimeter around the subterranean level of the main buildings and parking garage will prevent water from infiltrating the buildings.

Learn more
A wide shot of snow-covered ground and buildings in the background. The sun is shining in a blue sky.
  • Building the Center
  • Chicago
Construction update Feb. 2022: getting ready for mass excavation

Progress on constructing the Obama Presidential Center continues with relatively few inclement weather delays.

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A snowy, muddy construction site with the rectangular outline of metal and red pipe.
  • Building the Center
  • Chicago
Construction update Jan 2022: ringing in the new year with geothermal wells

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  • Building the Center
  • Chicago
Construction update Dec. 2021: drilling down

Drilling began for the first caissons that will support the underground parking garage.

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  • Building the Center
  • Chicago
Construction update Oct. 2021: hosting a community event for People with Disabilities

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Barack and Michelle Obama with shovels in their hands, smiling at the camera, pretending to dig in a pile of dirt. A man stands on one side of them, Mayor of Chicago Lori Lightfoot holds a shovel on the other side.
  • Building the Center
  • Barack Obama
Construction update Sept. 2021: breaking ground

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A slightly-angled graphic rendering of a large, white rectangular building surrounded by green fields, white pathways and trees. A road is on one side and a body of water on the other.
  • Building the Center
  • Chicago
Construction update Aug. 2021: Roadway improvements begin

Roadway improvements will continue and construction will begin within the 19.3 acre site of the Center that sits within Jackson Park.

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A mostly green and gray site-plan map of the Obama Presidential Center with a focus on buildings, pathways and roads.
  • Building the Center
  • Chicago
Construction update June 2021: Median work begins

Expect lane closures as preparatory work to remove the existing median on Cornell Drive and install a new one begins.

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