*The construction of the Barack Obama Presidential Center in Chicago has been delayed due to a racial discrimination lawsuit filed by Robert McGee, an African-American subcontractor.
McGee, owner of II in One, claims that Thornton Tomasetti, an engineering firm on the project, subjected his company to excessive paperwork and inspections, leading to financial strain. He is seeking $40 million in damages. Thornton Tomasetti denies the allegations, blaming II in One’s lack of experience.
“In a shocking and disheartening turn of events, the African-American owner of a local construction company finds himself and his company on the brink of forced closure because of racial discrimination by the structural engineer of record (Thornton Tomasetti) for the construction of The Obama Presidential Center,” the lawsuit alleges, per The Daily Beast.
In a statement to the Chicago Tribune, the Obama Foundation expressed support for Thornton Tomasetti and said it “would immediately take appropriate action” if there was “racist intent.”
We reported earlier that the multi-building project will include a museum, a public library of Obama’s presidential papers, an athletic center, a children’s playground, and a test kitchen, according to The Associated Press. The center is being financed through private donations, including $3.5 million from the Obama Foundation for a public facility for track and field competitions.
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The Barack Obama Presidential Center, located on 19 acres in Jackson Park between Woodlawn and South Shore, will reportedly feature an eight-story tower with a stone facade engraved with Obama’s speech commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Selma to Montgomery marches.
The former president has described the center as a hub for youth programming and public gatherings. The center will help create about 5,000 jobs during and after construction.
Construction of the Barack Obama Presidential Center began in September 2021 after a lengthy legal dispute over its Jackson Park location. The $800 million project was originally scheduled to open in October 2025.
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