The Obama Presidential Center (OPC), scheduled to open in 2026 in Chicago's historic Jackson Park, will be a transformative community hub designed to inspire, empower, and connect people to drive change. This dynamic campus will include iconic structures such as the Museum Tower, the Forum, and a branch of the Chicago Public Library, all integrated within a thoughtfully designed landscape. The 19-acre site will also feature a community vegetable garden, athletic facilities, winding wooded paths, and other public spaces like a sledding hill and playground.
At the heart of the OPC is its mission to honor the Obama Presidency while creating a space for civic engagement and future-forward story-making. Unlike traditional presidential libraries that focus on preserving the past, the OPC will serve as a lively platform for shaping new narratives.
Colleagues from the Obama Foundation, Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects, and Owner Representatives will delve into key aspects of the center’s development. This session will explore topics ranging from the conceptual vision of the OPC to the complexities of its design, construction, and eventual operations. Attendees will gain insights into unique challenges like the creation of a vertical museum, the implementation of an Exhibits program in parallel with the OPC Campus, the development of advanced security designs, and the curation of a robust commissioned art program. Additionally, the panel will discuss how the historical elements of Jackson Park are reflected in the center’s design, seamlessly integrating the past with the vision for the future.
This session will illuminate how the OPC is poised to serve as an economic anchor, a cultural beacon, and a resource for civic engagement, both locally on Chicago’s South Side and for visitors worldwide.
Learning Objectives:
- Understand the complex nature of vertically designed museums and strategies for engaging visitors, while maintaining security, ticketing and operational needs of the museum.
- Examine key considerations when contemplating a new museum campus in a historic park.
- Understand the integration of a world-class art installation with the building’s exterior envelope.
- Examine challenges and strategies in implementing physical and electronic security for a campus-wide presidential center.
AIA Continuing Education Course Number, BMS2025-38
