flexiblefullpage -
billboard - default
interstitial1 - interstitial
catfish1 - bottom
Currently Reading

Seven finalists named in Barack Obama Presidential Center design search

Cultural Facilities

Seven finalists named in Barack Obama Presidential Center design search

ShoP Architects, Renzo Piano Building Workshop, and Adjaye Associates are among the remaining firms that will propose designs for the $500 million archive, library, and museum.


By Mike Chamernik, Associate Editor | December 21, 2015
Seven finalists named in Barack Obama Presidential Center design search

A view of the Chicago skyline from Washington Park, one of the proposed sites of the Barack Obama Presidential Center. Photo: Connie Ma/Creative Commons

The Obama Foundation named seven finalists to design the Barack Obama Presidential Center, on the South Side of Chicago.

The Chicago Tribune reports that the firms are New York City-based firms Diller Scofidio + Renfro, Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects, ShoP Architects, and Snohetta; London’s Adjaye Associates; Genoa, Italy’s Renzo Piano Building Workshop; and Chicago’s John Ronan Architects.

The accomplished group of finalists were chosen from a field of 140 architects from 25 countries. Each remaining firm will make proposals to the Obamas during the first quarter of 2016, and the Obamas will pick a winner by the middle of next year. 

The project, which will include a presidential archive, library, and museum, is expected to cost at least $500 million. The center will be located in either Jackson Park or Washington Park. 

Construction won’t begin until 2017, and the center will not be completed until 2020 or 2021.

Related Stories

Cultural Facilities | Apr 8, 2024

Multipurpose sports facility will be first completed building at Obama Presidential Center

When it opens in late 2025, the Home Court will be the first completed space on the Obama Presidential Center campus in Chicago. Located on the southwest corner of the 19.3-acre Obama Presidential Center in Jackson Park, the Home Court will be the largest gathering space on the campus. Renderings recently have been released of the 45,000-sf multipurpose sports facility and events space designed by Moody Nolan.

Cultural Facilities | Mar 27, 2024

Kansas City’s new Sobela Ocean Aquarium home to nearly 8,000 animals in 34 habitats

Kansas City’s new Sobela Ocean Aquarium is a world-class facility home to nearly 8,000 animals in 34 habitats ranging from small tanks to a giant 400,000-gallon shark tank. 

Cultural Facilities | Mar 26, 2024

Renovation restores century-old Brooklyn Paramount Theater to its original use

The renovation of the iconic Brooklyn Paramount Theater restored the building to its original purpose as a movie theater and music performance venue. Long Island University had acquired the venue in the 1960s and repurposed it as the school’s basketball court.

Museums | Mar 25, 2024

Chrysler Museum of Art’s newly expanded Perry Glass Studio will display the art of glassmaking

In Norfolk, Va., the Chrysler Museum of Art’s Perry Glass Studio, an educational facility for glassmaking, will open a new addition in May. That will be followed by a renovation of the existing building scheduled for completion in December.

Museums | Mar 11, 2024

Nebraska’s Joslyn Art Museum to reopen this summer with new Snøhetta-designed pavilion

In Omaha, Neb., the Joslyn Art Museum, which displays art from ancient times to the present, has announced it will reopen on September 10, following the completion of its new 42,000-sf Rhonda & Howard Hawks Pavilion. Designed in collaboration with Snøhetta and Alley Poyner Macchietto Architecture, the Hawks Pavilion is part of a museum overhaul that will expand the gallery space by more than 40%.

Performing Arts Centers | Feb 27, 2024

Frank Gehry-designed expansion of the Colburn School performing arts center set to break ground

In April, the Colburn School, an institute for music and dance education and performance, will break ground on a 100,000-sf expansion designed by architect Frank Gehry. Located in downtown Los Angeles, the performing arts center will join the neighboring Walt Disney Concert Hall and The Grand by Gehry, forming the largest concentration of Gehry-designed buildings in the world.

Giants 400 | Feb 8, 2024

Top 20 Public Library Construction Firms for 2023

Gilbane Building Company, Skanska USA, Manhattan Construction, McCownGordon Construction, and C.W. Driver Companies top BD+C's ranking of the nation's largest public library general contractors and construction management (CM) firms for 2023, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2023 Giants 400 Report. 

Giants 400 | Feb 8, 2024

Top 30 Public Library Engineering Firms for 2023

KPFF Consulting Engineers, Tetra Tech High Performance Buildings Group, Thornton Tomasetti, WSP, and Dewberry top BD+C's ranking of the nation's largest public library engineering and engineering/architecture (EA) firms for 2023, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2023 Giants 400 Report.

Giants 400 | Feb 8, 2024

Top 50 Public Library Architecture Firms for 2023

Quinn Evans, McMillan Pazdan Smith, PGAL, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, and Gensler top BD+C's ranking of the nation's largest public library architecture and architecture/engineering (AE) firms for 2023, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2023 Giants 400 Report.

Giants 400 | Feb 8, 2024

Top 35 Performing Arts Center and Concert Venue Construction Firms for 2023

The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company, Holder Construction, McCarthy Holdings, Clark Group, and Gilbane Building Company top BD+C's ranking of the nation's largest performing arts center and concert venue general contractors and construction management (CM) firms for 2023, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2023 Giants 400 Report.

boombox1 - default
boombox2 -
native1 -

More In Category

Cultural Facilities

Multipurpose sports facility will be first completed building at Obama Presidential Center

When it opens in late 2025, the Home Court will be the first completed space on the Obama Presidential Center campus in Chicago. Located on the southwest corner of the 19.3-acre Obama Presidential Center in Jackson Park, the Home Court will be the largest gathering space on the campus. Renderings recently have been released of the 45,000-sf multipurpose sports facility and events space designed by Moody Nolan.




halfpage1 -

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021