Construction of the Obama Presidential Center is set to continue at Chicago’s Jackson Park following a ruling by Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett1. The project, designed by Tod Williams & Billie Tsien Architects in collaboration with Interactive Design Architects (IDEA), was subjected to a legal challenge2 which argued that the project would negatively impact the park’s historic setting.3
- 1. The suit requested that a writ of injunction be issued to prevent any further groundbreaking for the center, as well as stopping tree cutting in Jackson Park for the Obama Center. One applicant for the writ of injunction was Protect Our Parks, a campaign dedicated to “keeping public park land open to the public.” In a video message on its website, the organization notes that “Protect Our Parks welcomes the construction of the Obama Presidential Center on Chicago’s South Side outside of a dedicated public park!” Among other reasons, the applicants said groundbreaking should halt because trees in Jackson Park are critical to migratory birds, and because of short-term effects like noise and air pollution. Barrett's decision means the Supreme Court will allow the construction of the presidential center to continue. The Obama Presidential Center announced plans to break ground earlier this year, following four years of review.
- 2. Earlier this year, the Obama Presidential Center concluded a four-year-long federal review process, allowing construction work to begin on-site. The project, whose construction is estimated to cost $500 million, has attracted strong views since its unveiling in 2017. At the beginning of 2018, more than 100 University of Chicago faculty members penned a letter opposing the center on economic and preservation grounds.
- 3. Opponents of the center filed an emergency motion asking for a writ of injunction to be issued to block any additional groundbreaking of the center. One of the applicants, a nonprofit organization called Protect Our Parks, opposed the project on its current site, arguing the scheme should be built “on Chicago’s South Side outside of a dedicated public park.” A U.S. District Court Judge previously dismissed a suit by the organization in 2019.
