Washington – Obama, First Lady Review Library Design Proposals

Washington – President Barack Obama is reviewing design proposals for his future presidential library from the seven architectural firms chosen as finalists.

The White House says the president’s wife, Michelle, joined him at Sunday’s meeting in Washington with staff of the Barack Obama Foundation.

The foundation plans to build the library in one of two parks Chicago’s South Side. Completion is expected in 2020 or 2121.

The finalists include four firms from New York, two in Europe and one in Chicago. More than 140 firms from 25 countries and 60 cities applied to design Obama’s presidential center.

The finalists are Diller Scofidio and Renfro, SHoP Architects, Snohetta and Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects of New York; John Ronan Architects of Chicago; Renzo Piano Building Workshop of Italy; and Adjaye Associates of London.