Obama Presidential Center's first building is complete — Here's an exclusive look

Obama Presidential Center's First Building Complete: A Look Inside Home Court

A gleaming, angular multipurpose facility now stands as the first completed building at the Obama Presidential Center in Jackson Park, Chicago. Known as Home Court, this 60,000-square-foot glassy structure boasts an NBA regulation-sized basketball court and offers panoramic views of the surrounding park.

Located about a block south of the museum tower that marks the center's campus, Home Court is visually distinct from the other buildings designed by Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects. The building's unique look was influenced by former President Barack Obama himself, who reportedly emphasized "fun" as a key design element.

The facility features six multipurpose rooms, an exercise area with equipment, and a 13,000-square-foot professional-sized basketball court that doubles as a banquet hall. The center court emblem – the letter "O" set against a striped curved horizon – is a prominent feature of the court's floor.

Inside Home Court, visitors will find conference spaces, including large rooms with long tables and chairs. The building also boasts an all-electric design, featuring solar panels on its roof and thermal energy for heating and cooling.

Construction of Home Court presented several challenges, particularly given the low-lying lakefront site. According to Nosa Ehimwenman, president and CEO of BOWA Construction, the company had to pump out over 1.5 million gallons of water during excavation.

Despite these obstacles, the building's grounds now feature a snow-melting system, eliminating the need for shoveling during winter months. With its unique blend of functionality and aesthetic appeal, Home Court is an exciting addition to the Obama Presidential Center campus.

OMG I'm totally stoked that Home Court is finally done! I mean, who wouldn't want a basketball court with a sick view of the park? But, like, for real though... it's kinda mind-blowing how much effort went into getting this building built on such a low-lying site. 1.5 million gallons of water? That's wild! And I love that they put in solar panels and thermal energy - it's like, the future is now, right? But what really gets me is how "fun" the design process was for former Prez Obama... I mean, who wouldn't want to have a say in their own building? It's like he wanted to bring that Obama magic to this new space. Anyway, can't wait to check it out!

I'm loving the vibes at the Obama Presidential Center . The fact that they made a basketball court with a professional-sized court and all-electric design is just fire . I mean, who needs all those solar panels when you can play hoops and chill? But seriously, it's dope to see sustainability incorporated into the building. And let's be real, Home Court is like a sports bar on steroids – basketball games, events, and conferences galore . The best part? It was influenced by Obama himself, so that's gotta count for something . Maybe we can get some NBA legends to come play some ball there?

I gotta say, this Home Court building looks straight fire ! The angular design, glassy walls... it's like a modern sports arena ! And that basketball court is insane - who wouldn't want to play a game of hoops on the first floor of the Obama Presidential Center? But for real though, I love how they incorporated solar panels and an all-electric design. It's like they're setting an example for sustainable building practices . And can you imagine hosting events or meetings in that multipurpose room ? It sounds like a dream come true!

"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." I think it's amazing how this new building will bring a fresh vibe to the Obama Presidential Center campus! Who wouldn't want to hang out on that epic basketball court? The attention to detail is impressive, from the all-electric design to the solar panels on the roof. It's like they say, "You can't start the next chapter of your life if you keep re-reading the last one."

I'm loving this first building at the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, it's like they're bringing some serious swag to the city ! The fact that it was influenced by Barack Obama himself, with a focus on "fun" as a design element, is just genius . I mean who wouldn't want to hang out in a building with an NBA-sized basketball court and panoramic views of Jackson Park? It's like they're giving the city its own mini sports complex . And can we talk about how cool it is that the building has an all-electric design, solar panels on the roof, and thermal energy for heating and cooling? Like, what a win for sustainability ! My only hope is that they make sure to keep Home Court accessible and inclusive for everyone, so it's not just some exclusive sports club. Fingers crossed !

omg I'm so hyped about this new building ! I've been following the progress on the Obama Presidential Center since it was announced, and it's amazing to see how far along they are now . I love that former President Obama himself got involved in the design process - it really shows in the building's unique style . And can we talk about the basketball court? 13k sq ft is insane! I'm sure it'll be a great spot for community events and whatnot. Plus, an all-electric design with solar panels on the roof is like, so cool for the environment . I do wonder how they managed to get around the lakefront site tho... 1.5 million gallons of water pumped out? no joke!

I think it's so cool that the first building at the Obama Presidential Center is literally a home court for basketball lovers! I mean, who wouldn't want to shoot hoops on an NBA regulation-sized court? And the fact that they incorporated solar panels and thermal energy into its design is just amazing. It's like they're showing us what sustainability can look like in action.

I had this idea once where I wanted to have a basketball tournament at my old high school, but we never got it off the ground. But seeing Home Court being built has me thinking... maybe one day I'll get that chance! The fact that former President Obama himself was involved in the design process is pretty awesome too. You can just tell they put their heart and soul into this project.

Anyway, I'm stoked to see what other cool features Home Court has to offer. Maybe they'll even have a little "O"-shaped snack bar?

I'm loving this new addition to Chicago! The Home Court building looks like it's straight out of a futuristic video game . I mean, who wouldn't want to play basketball in that amazing glassy structure with views of Jackson Park? It's awesome that the design was influenced by former President Obama himself - he must've had some fun ideas .

But what really impresses me is the focus on sustainability - an all-electric building with solar panels and thermal energy? That's the kind of forward-thinking we need more of in our world . And I'm glad they were able to overcome the challenges of the low-lying lakefront site - it just goes to show that with determination, we can build something truly amazing .

Now, I'm curious to see what other exciting projects come out of this campus... maybe a rooftop garden or an outdoor amphitheater? Either way, I think Home Court is going to be a real winner .

I'm so stoked about this new build! It's like, who wouldn't want a sweet basketball court with panoramic views? The angular design is pretty cool too, especially since it was influenced by Obama himself - I mean, you don't get more 'fun' in architecture than that .

Here's a simple diagram to show what Home Court looks like:
```
+---------------+
| Basket Court |
| (with Obam |
| a logo on it) |
+---------------+
| |
| View |
| of the |
| lake |
v v
+---------------+ +---------------+
| Conference | | Solar panels |
| rooms | | on the roof |
+---------------+ +---------------+
```
Anyway, I'm all about sustainable designs like this - solar panels and thermal energy? That's what we need more of in Chicago! The snow-melting system is a genius touch too... it's like they anticipated the winters .

omg have you seen pics of this new building in chicago?? it's literally a glass box with a huge basketball court inside i'm not even a basketball fan but this place looks so cool. and that "O" on the floor is lit btw did u know they used solar panels and thermal energy to power the whole building? that's some eco-friendly stuff

I'm so stoked that Home Court is finally done ! I mean, who wouldn't want a sick basketball court right in the heart of Chicago's park? But seriously, it's amazing to see how it came together with all those challenges they had to overcome. 1.5 million gallons of water pumping out? Talk about determination . And can we talk about how eco-friendly it is? Solar panels and thermal energy? That's what I call progress . I'm looking forward to seeing the rest of the center come together and being a hub for community events and activism . It's a great way to honor President Obama's legacy and make a positive impact on our city. Let's keep it going, Chicago!

I gotta say, I'm loving this new building at the Obama Presidential Center ! The angular design is so cool, reminds me of something outta a futuristic movie . I mean, who wouldn't want a basketball court with that sick curved horizon, it's like the "O" symbol comes alive on the floor ! And can we talk about how eco-friendly this place is? All-electric design, solar panels, and thermal energy for heating and cooling? That's some next-level sustainability right there . The fact that they had to pump out over 1.5 million gallons of water during excavation though, that's wild . But overall, I think this building is gonna be a real showstopper and bring some serious vibe to the campus .

omg can u believe this new building at obama center it's literally so cool i mean who wouldn't want a basketball court that big in their backyard lol and the fact that it's got solar panels on the roof is like woah so eco friendly anyway i was talking to my friend who works near the park and he said it's pretty awesome to see the progress being made on this project we've been waiting for ages and now it's finally starting to come together i'm really excited to check out Home Court myself once it opens up can't wait to take some pics with the court emblem

I mean... what's with this new building? The design is super cool, I love that angular vibe , but at the same time, it's just too flashy for my taste . I can see why they wanted "fun" to be a key element, 'cause this place does look like a real-life NBA arena ! But seriously, who needs all those rooms and equipment? Don't get me wrong, it's awesome that they included an exercise area and all-electric design, but... I don't know if we really need a snow-melting system in Chicago . Can't we just use some good ol' fashioned salt and shove the snow around instead? And what about the solar panels? Are they just decorative or do they actually make a difference? Ugh, I'm all over this place...

omg I'm so hyped to see this new build go up ! I mean think about it - a basketball court that's basically right next to a museum? genius move on the designers part . and can you even imagine having a snow-melting system on the grounds? game changer for Chicago winters . it's amazing how much thought and care went into building this place, from the solar panels to the electric design. Obama himself was involved in the design process, which is so cool . and who wouldn't want to host events in a space with an NBA court and a beautiful view of the park? this whole project is giving me life