The foundation overseeing the development of Barack Obama’s presidential library began a global competition on Wednesday to select the architect who will design the elaborate Chicago complex.

The start of the selection process is the latest step in Mr. Obama’s quiet but painstaking planning for his post-presidential initiatives, which his advisers say could cost as much as $1 billion.

The library, to be located on the South Side of Chicago, where the president had his political start as a community organizer, will be the crown jewel of the effort, a high-technology take on the traditional archival presidential library that will include space for innovation labs, a community garden and sports.

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The firms have until Sept. 16 to submit statements of interest in the project, including company profiles, résumés of their staff members, photographs and drawings of past projects, and examples of their diversity efforts. The foundation asked that no designs, sketches or concepts for the library be submitted, saying responses that included them would be disqualified. ... Mr. Obama and the first lady, Michelle Obama, will evaluate the companies’ submissions and choose several firms that will be asked to provide proposals for the library in the fall. The goal is to receive responses by year’s end and select the architect shortly afterward.