The Barack Obama Foundation said Friday that 140 architecture firms asked to be in the running to design the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, so many that the early 2016 target date for selection will have to be extended.

The firms delivered submissions to the Foundation “Request for Qualifications” by the Wednesday deadline.

The Foundation said 99 of the firms were based in the U.S. with “many” from Chicago. ... The Foundation expects the field to be cut to a short list of fewer than 10 finalists, who will be asked to respond to still-to-be-released “Request for Proposals.” The original late fall target to create a short list will be pushed back by weeks or months.

A Foundation spokesman said that given the number of responses, “we are reviewing” the self-imposed early 2016 deadline for President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle to select an architect.