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

Barack Obama Foundation begins search for presidential library architect

Libraries

Barack Obama Foundation begins search for presidential library architect

Both national and foreign firms will compete for chance to design the Chicago-based Presidential Center.


By Mike Chamernik, Associate Editor | August 27, 2015
Barack Obama Foundation begins search for presidential library architect

Barack and Michelle Obama look at Chicago's skyline. Photo: Pete Souza/Wikimedia Commons 

A search has begun to find the architecture firm that will design the proposed Barack Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, according to the Chicago Tribune.

The group overseeing the process, the Barack Obama Foundation, declined to say how many firms have applied to design the library and museum.

The foundation did say that while foreign applicants are being considered, at least 90% of the invited firms are American, with a good portion from Chicago. If a foreign architect wins the nod, it will be the first time a non-American has designed an American presidential library.

Firms have until September 16 to submit credentials, references, and work examples. Finalists will be selected later this year, and the winner will be announced early next year.

The center is expected to be built on Chicago's South Side, either in Jackson Park or Washington Park, both located in predominantly African-American communities.

The foundation plans for the library to have community gardens, dining spots, presidential archives, and other features. It is expected to cost at least $500 million and not be completed until 2020-21.

Related Stories

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 | Nov 6, 2023

Top 65 Cultural Facility Construction Firms for 2023

Turner Construction, Clark Group, Whiting-Turner, Gilbane, and Holder Construction top BD+C's ranking of the nation's largest cultural facilities sector general contractors and construction management (CM) firms for 2023, as reported in the 2023 Giants 400 Report. Note: This ranking includes revenue from all cultural building sectors, including concert venues, art galleries, museums, performing arts centers, and public libraries. 

Giants 400 | Nov 6, 2023

Top 60 Cultural Facility Engineering Firms for 2023

KPFF, Arup, Thornton Tomasetti, Tetra Tech, and WSP head BD+C's ranking of the nation's largest cultural facilities sector engineering and engineering architecture (EA) firms for 2023, as reported in the 2023 Giants 400 Report. Note: This ranking includes revenue from all cultural building sectors, including concert venues, art galleries, museums, performing arts centers, and public libraries.  

Giants 400 | Nov 6, 2023

Top 110 Cultural Facility Architecture Firms for 2023

Populous, Gensler, HGA, DLR Group, and Quinn Evans top BD+C's ranking of the nation's largest cultural facilities sector architecture and architecture engineering (AE) firms for 2023, as reported in the 2023 Giants 400 Report. Note: This ranking includes revenue from all cultural building sectors, including concert venues, art galleries, museums, performing arts centers, and public libraries.  

Mass Timber | Sep 1, 2023

Community-driven library project brings CLT to La Conner, Wash.

The project, designed by Seattle-based architecture firm BuildingWork, was conceived with the history and culture of the local Swinomish Indian Tribal Community in mind.

Giants 400 | Aug 22, 2023

Top 115 Architecture Engineering Firms for 2023

Stantec, HDR, Page, HOK, and Arcadis North America top the rankings of the nation's largest architecture engineering (AE) firms for nonresidential building and multifamily housing work, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2023 Giants 400 Report.

Giants 400 | Aug 22, 2023

2023 Giants 400 Report: Ranking the nation's largest architecture, engineering, and construction firms

A record 552 AEC firms submitted data for BD+C's 2023 Giants 400 Report. The final report includes 137 rankings across 25 building sectors and specialty categories.

Giants 400 | Aug 22, 2023

Top 175 Architecture Firms for 2023

Gensler, HKS, Perkins&Will, Corgan, and Perkins Eastman top the rankings of the nation's largest architecture firms for nonresidential building and multifamily housing work, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2023 Giants 400 Report.

boombox1 - default
boombox2 -
native1 -

More In Category

Giants 400

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

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

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

Top 65 Cultural Facility Construction Firms for 2023

Turner Construction, Clark Group, Whiting-Turner, Gilbane, and Holder Construction top BD+C's ranking of the nation's largest cultural facilities sector general contractors and construction management (CM) firms for 2023, as reported in the 2023 Giants 400 Report. Note: This ranking includes revenue from all cultural building sectors, including concert venues, art galleries, museums, performing arts centers, and public libraries. 

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