Former President Barack Obama’s influence in his presidential museum runs deep, from the Chicago location to the textured stone adorning its dramatic tower, art installations and a striped reading chairs that resemble ones in his own home. The Obama Presidential Center opens to the general public on Juneteenth after a celebratory dedication in Chicago with dignitaries. But tens of thousands of people, including students and journalists, have already been offered a sneak peek as crews finish final art installations and landscaping. The roughly $850 million project covers the political and personal realms of the nation’s first Black president.

Crews are putting the finishing touches on the Obama Presidential Center ahead of the official public opening in Chicago on Juneteenth. But the unusual design of the $850 million campus _ particularly a 225-foot gray high rise _ has provoked a debate in the city celebrated as the birthplace of the modern skyscraper. For some, it’s a jarring choice in Barack Obama’s hometown, particularly after a grueling battle over its location in a lakefront park surrounded by classical style buildings. To others, it’s a bold way to add to Chicago’s iconic skyline.