Obama Presidential Library
Tod Williams Billie Tsien · Jackson Park · Chicago · 2026
South facade of the Obama Presidential Museum.
Construction is ongoing at the Obama Presidential Library in Jackson Park on the South Side of Chicago. Designed by Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects + Partners, the 19-acre campus will include a museum; a branch of the Chicago public library; an auditorium; a fruit and vegetable garden; and a facility for athletics, programs, and events.
Southwest corner of the Obama Presidential Museum (left) and the forum building (right).
The form of the Obama Presidential Museum was inspired by the idea of four hands coming together, embodying the notion that many hands shape a place. Tapestry granite, mined in New Hampshire, will clad the structure and has started to be installed on the lower levels.
Close-up of the museum's Tapestry granite panel facade.
Close-up of the museum's Tapestry granite panel facade.
West facade of the Obama Presidential Museum.
Northwest corner of the Obama Presidential Museum.
North facade of the Obama Presidential Museum.
North facade of the Obama Presidential Museum.
Architect: Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects + Partners (Museum, Forum, and Library), Moody Nolan (Athletics and Events Center); Structural Engineer: Thornton Tomasetti; MEP Engineer: Altieri Sebor Wieber; Facade Consultant: Heintges; Landscape Architect: Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates; Program: Museum, Library, Auditorium, Winter Garden, Athletics and Events Center; Location: Jackson Park, Chicago, IL; Completion: First Half of 2026.
Construction Update: 181 Mercer Street
Southeast corner from Houston Street.
Facade installation is ongoing at NYU’s 23-story mixed use building 181 Mercer at the northern edge of SoHo. Designed by KieranTimberlake and Davis Brody Bond, the full block structure features faculty and student housing, 58 classrooms, performing arts spaces including a 350-seat theater, a student commons space on the second floor, and athletic facilities at the base. Installation of the pleated glass curtain wall with glare reducing frit patterns is nearly finished at the podium and panels are going up on the towers.
Northeast corner.
Looking up at the south facade from Houston Street.
Southwest corner from Houston Street.
Close-up of the south podium facade.
Southwest corner from Houston Street.
Southwest corner from Houston Street.
West facade of 181 Mercer (right) and Picasso’s Bust of Sylvette (left) from NYU’s Silver Towers.
Architects: KieranTimberlake and Davis Brody Bond; Client: New York University (NYU); Program: Faculty and Student Housing, Classrooms, Performing Arts, Athletic Facility, and Commons; Location: SoHo, New York, NY; Completion: 2021.
Tour: 543 West 122nd Street - The Vandewater
Southwest corner from Broadway.
Construction is nearing completion at Savanna’s 33-story residential condo tower The Vandewater adjacent to the Jewish Theological Seminary’s Morningside Heights campus. Designed by INC Architecture and Design, the tower takes cues from the classical neo-gothic architecture in the surrounding Morningside Heights neighborhood with it’s concrete and glass facade. The tower is clad in concrete panels with a weathered limestone patina that references the nearby Riverside Church and nearby residential buildings. Oversized in-swing casement windows are integrated into the facade panels.
Southwest corner from West 122nd Street.
Northwest corner of The Vandewater and the new addition to the Jewish Theological Seminary campus.
Looking up at the north facade from West 123rd Street.
Close-up of the north facade.
North facade of the Jewish Theological Seminary’s campus addition.
Penthouse Views
View south towards the Columbia University campus and Midtown from the rooftop terrace
View south towards Midtown from the rooftop terrace.
View southwest towards Morningside Heights and the New Jersey waterfront.
View west towards Morningside Heights and the New Jersey waterfront.
View northwest towards Columbia’s Manhattanville campus and the New Jersey waterfront.
Inside, the tower offers 183 units ranging in size from one-to-four bedrooms. Kitchens will feature custom oak cabinetry with pewter hardware, polished Perla Venata Quartzite countertop and backsplash, honed brown antiqued granite island countertops, and Miele appliances. Master bathrooms will feature honed Windsor Cream marble walls and floor tile, custom stained white oak double vanity with honed black travertine countertop and under-mount porcelain sinks, custom mirrored medicine cabinet, custom pewter lavatory faucet and accessories, and under-mount soaking tub with honed Windsor Cream marble surround.
Residential amenities will include: a salon; a great room with full catering kitchen, dining room, and living room; a club room with large format TV screen and wet bar; practice room; teen room; study rooms; Little Forest children’s playroom; fitness center by The Wright Fit; and aquatics center with 70 foot long heated swimming pool. Michael Van Valkenburgh is leading the design of the outdoor spaces including the private gardens and outdoor dining terrace.
Model Residence
Model Residence
Architect: INC Architecture and Design; Landscape Architect: Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates; Developer: Savanna; Program: Residential Condo; Location: Morningside Heights; Completion: 2021.
