Obama Center Subcontractor Sues Managing Firm for $40 Million, Alleges Racial Discrimination
A Black-owned construction subcontractor working on the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago has filed a $40 million lawsuit against the site’s managing firm, Thornton Tomasetti, alleging racial discrimination and unfair treatment during the course of the high-profile project.
The subcontractor, II in One, claims that Thornton Tomasetti imposed unusually strict inspection requirements and higher performance standards compared to those demanded of other, non-minority firms. The company argues these measures led to costly delays, severe financial strain, and brought the business to the brink of bankruptcy.
In response, Thornton Tomasetti has strongly denied the allegations, calling the claims “baseless.” The firm asserts that II in One was “questionably qualified” for portions of the work and directly responsible for several project delays and construction errors.
The complaint further accuses Thornton Tomasetti of racial bias in how it managed and communicated with minority contractors, alleging that white-owned firms were not subjected to the same scrutiny or penalties. A memo from Thornton Tomasetti to the Obama Foundation reportedly included photographs of construction defects, which the firm attributed to II in One’s performance—evidence the subcontractor contends was selectively used to damage its reputation.
The Obama Presidential Center, a long-anticipated landmark in Chicago’s Jackson Park, has already faced a series of setbacks, including construction delays and criticism over its impact on surrounding neighborhoods. Local activists have raised concerns that the project has contributed to rising housing costs and displacement in the area.
The lawsuit adds yet another layer of controversy to a project once envisioned as a symbol of community uplift and progress.