HOW TO EXPLORE OBAMA LIBRARY ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE DESIGN ON #EARTHDAY! (1040 hits)
For Immediate Release From The Obama Foundation!
During his time in the White House, President Obama and his administration fought to combat climate change and protect the one planet that we’ve got for future generations. The Obama Foundation celebrates and continues to build this legacy through our plans for the Obama Presidential Center in Jackson Park and our work to inspire, empower, and connect the next leaders of tomorrow.
From our support of young leaders who are on the front lines addressing climate change around the world to the way the Center is sustainably designed, built, and operated—the Obama Foundation is committed to doing its part. The Center will be home to a sustainable landscape brimming with new life: native plants, trees, birds, insects, and other pollinators that will grow, mature, and evolve alongside future generations.
Led by Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates, the Center’s landscape design has also been developed with the Chicago Botanic Garden. Bringing their expertise in horticulture, science, and education to the project, the Chicago institution has played a key advisory role and has made recommendations on species that are native to and appropriate for the Chicago climate, improvements to accessibility, and other details.
We look forward to continuing our exciting work with the Chicago Botanic Garden in the future, as well as other Chicago-based organizations that prioritize caring for the environment, supporting healthy ecosystems, and engaging young people. You can learn more about our partnership with the Chicago Botanic Garden here.
This Earth Day, check out some of the eco-friendly features that will make the Obama Presidential Center a model of sustainability, from a Michelle Obama-inspired Fruit & Vegetable Garden, to solar panels that will collect energy atop the Garden Pavilion. These outdoor spaces are unlike any on the South Side of Chicago and will transform Jackson Park—a park that has long been loved but underused—into a sustainable space with global reach and local roots.
Fruit and Vegetable Garden
Inspired by Mrs. Obama’s White House Kitchen Garden, the Obama Presidential Center’s Fruit & Vegetable Garden will be a place where young people and community members can get their hands dirty and learn about growing fruits and vegetables. Visitors of all abilities will discover more about the composting process and their connection to the food they eat every day. The Garden will be located on the roof of the new branch of the Chicago Public Library.
