In addition to creating a lovely space for the people of Chicago to enjoy, the foundation added in its presentation that it will also "strengthen the economic climate of the community by bringing hundreds of thousands of visitors to the South Side every year, creating new jobs and opportunities on the South Side, and revitalizing historic Jackson Park".
A rendering of the Obama Presidential Center, which will be built in Chicago.
"What we want this to be is the world premiere institution for training young people and leadership to make a difference in their communities, in their countries and in the world", he told the friendly crowd that included Mayor Rahm Emanuel, his one-time chief of staff.
Obama didn't mention his successor, instead focusing on details about the center, including potential exhibits and traffic patterns.
To its south would be the forum, which will house an auditorium, restaurant and public garden, and the library, which will contain a trove of documents, emails, photos and artifacts from Obama's eight years in office.
He also stressed that the center is meant to be a "transformational project for this community" and can generate hundreds of permanent jobs at the center itself and thousands of construction jobs.
The Obama Foundation said it is also exploring ways to incorporate a Chicago Public Library branch on the site.
White House advisers postpone Paris climate deal meeting
In March, Trump signed an executive order created to prioritize American jobs over addressing climate change. Trump, who once remarked that climate change was a Chinese hoax, has since backed off those claims.
"Right now, what many of you saw as you came in, you saw the models, you saw the pictures - that's our basic conception", Obama said.
Watch the former president's full unveiling of plans for his presidential center here.
"The design approach for the Center is guided by the goal of creating a true community asset that seeks to inspire and empower the public to take on the greatest challenges of our time", said Williams, Tsien and Griffin in a statement.
NY firm Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects led the design team, joined by local company Interactive Design Architects.
She returned to the South Shore Cultural Center where the Obamas were married 25 years ago.
Along with establishing a monument to the former first couple's presidential legacy, the Obamas hope the center has more of a direct impact on the Chicago neighborhood it will call home.
Obama also grew nostalgic talking about the South Side, saying: "The best things that have happened to me in my life happened in this community". "More than a library or museum, it will be a living, working center for citizenship". Tiger Woods is also set to design a golf course to replace the current course in the city park, leading to hopes for revitalization of the area as well as concerns from some in the community that gentrification of the neighborhood may be inevitable. Located 10 miles from downtown, it will be the first presidential library to be built in an urban environment.
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