"Obama Center" implies more than it should, unfortunately. Mr. Obama is not a party to the suit, but a major contractor is. TD
"The construction issues were all unequivocally driven by the underperformance and inexperience of the concrete subcontractor," the memorandum states.
"Construction of former President Barack Obama's long-awaited library and museum in Chicago began with ambitious plans for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) but is now plagued by huge cost overruns, delays and a $40.75-million, racially charged lawsuit filed by a minority contractor.
"From the outset, the endeavor touted DEI as a key part of enshrining Obama's legacy at the 19.3-acre site, where costs have ballooned from an initial $350 million to $830 million in 2021 based on its previous annual reports, with no publicly available figures available for updated projected costs. The project set out "ambitious goals" for certain construction diversity quotas, with its contracts to be allocated to "diverse suppliers," 35% of which were required to be minority-based enterprises (MBEs).
"'With these aggressive goals, the foundation is hoping to set a new precedent for diversity and inclusion in major construction projects in Chicago and beyond," the Obama Foundation wrote in a 2017 press release." . . . More...
Obama Center subcontractor shuts down amid $4M fight, lays off 25
"Owen said he was not accusing former President Barack Obama of personal responsibility but believes the foundation should publicly acknowledge the subcontractors’ complaints and help seek a resolution."
Obama library sued by contractor
. . . "The Obama Presidential Center, located in Jackson Park, Chicago, is a 19.3-acre campus including a museum, library, community spaces, and a basketball facility. The project, overseen by the Obama Foundation, opened its museum portion in June 2026, with construction costs ballooning from initial estimates of $300–500 million to approximately $850 million
. The Foundation contracted Lakeside Alliance as the primary construction manager, which in turn hired and managed roughly 475 subcontractors, including minority-owned firms"
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