The Obama Foundation named seven finalists to design the Barack Obama Presidential Center, on the South Side of Chicago.
The Chicago Tribune reports that the firms are New York City-based firms Diller Scofidio + Renfro, Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects, ShoP Architects, and Snohetta; London’s Adjaye Associates; Genoa, Italy’s Renzo Piano Building Workshop; and Chicago’s John Ronan Architects.
The accomplished group of finalists were chosen from a field of 140 architects from 25 countries. Each remaining firm will make proposals to the Obamas during the first quarter of 2016, and the Obamas will pick a winner by the middle of next year.
The project, which will include a presidential archive, library, and museum, is expected to cost at least $500 million. The center will be located in either Jackson Park or Washington Park.
Construction won’t begin until 2017, and the center will not be completed until 2020 or 2021.
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