The Obama Presidential Center welcomes visitors to exhibits, athletic facilities, gardens, and public spaces across a 19.3-acre (7.8-hectare) campus on Chicago’s South Side.
Our team delivered plumbing, fire protection, and fire alarm engineering for this multifaceted project, as well as peer review and construction administration support for select mechanical and electrical systems. The work required close coordination across several buildings and site conditions, including the museum, the Forum, Chicago Public Library branch, and parking garage. We also helped align the design approach with Chicago permitting and code requirements, including standards tied to high-performance systems like the project’s geothermal plant and all-electric HVAC.
Additionally, we provided support for the Center’s water strategy by integrating rainwater harvesting with the plumbing system, allowing runoff from roofs and courtyards to be reused for toilet flushing. A separate drain tile collection system supports irrigation. The Center reimagines stormwater not as waste, but as a resource. Together, these strategies are expected to reduce municipal water use by approximately 518,000 gallons (2 million litres) per year.
These high-performing building systems support daily operations, occupant safety, code compliance, and long-term sustainability at this civic destination and landmark.
" }