The Obamas Unveiled the Design of Their Chicago Center — and It's Awesome

The Obamas have been busy since leaving office. They wasted no time moving into a luxurious private home in DC and now they've announced plans for a new endeavor in Chicago's Jackson Park: The Obama Presidential Center. According the Obama Foundation, the "living, working center" will be open to the public and serve as an "ongoing project where we will shape, together, what it means to be a good citizen in the 21st century." In addition to the center's commendable mission, its innovative design is also notable.

Multiple contemporary structures and an outdoor plaza are designed to invite visitors to flow through. A towering museum anchors the space while the roofs of the forum and library are covered with lush, green plantings. "This approach will soften the transition between city, landscape, lagoon, and lake," the Obama Foundation explains. The buildings will be constructed of variegated stone with light filtering through glass openings and will be certified LEED v4 Platinum, indicating that they're designed to the highest level of efficiency and sustainability. The center is slated for completion in 2021 and was designed by Billie Tsien Architects | Partners and Interactive Design Architects.