On Sept. 15, the Barack Obama Foundation announced four finalists that have been invited to submit full proposals to host President Barack Obama’s library.
The finalists are Columbia University, the University of Chicago, the University of Illinois at Chicago and the University of Hawaii.
The Foundation’s Request for Qualifications, which was released in March, set a vision and guiding principles for the facility. Some of the key criteria included transportation and accessibility, economic development, the ability to deliver a world-class project, community engagement and overall support from community partners.
In 2015, the board of directors plans to share recommendations with the president and the first lady, who then will make the final decision.