Obama Presidential Center Fountain - Chicago, IL

A Water Feature for the Obama Presidential Center

The Obama Presidential Center is being developed in Chicago’s Jackson Park as a new civic campus dedicated to community, education, and public gathering. Near the north entrance of the campus, the Ann Dunham Water Garden will provide a quiet place where visitors can pause and experience the surrounding landscape.

The garden includes a sculptural water installation created by artist Maya Lin as part of her work Seeing Through the Universe. The installation introduces water into the landscape through two sculptural elements that create a subtle but powerful presence within the space.

A Sculptural Water Installation

The installation includes two distinct water elements.

An upright oculus feature produces a fine mist that rises gently into the air. Nearby, a low sculptural form known as the lozenge allows water to collect and move quietly across its surface.



Together these elements introduce water into the garden in a restrained way that complements the surrounding architecture and landscape of the Obama Presidential Center.

Delivering the Water Feature Systems

Laughing Waters was brought onto the project team to construct and deliver the water feature systems supporting the installation.

Our role focused on translating the design concept into a functioning fountain system capable of operating reliably within a heavily visited public environment. This required careful coordination between the sculptural elements, the surrounding architecture, and the technical systems that allow the installation to perform consistently.

The goal was to ensure that the water feature operates smoothly and reliably while allowing the sculptural elements and landscape to remain the focus of the space.

A Meaningful Civic Project

When completed, the Obama Presidential Center will become one of Chicago’s most significant new civic destinations.

Being part of the team responsible for delivering the water features within the Ann Dunham Water Garden is one of the most meaningful projects Laughing Waters has participated in. It reflects the type of work our company focuses on: complex public water features where artistic vision and technical systems must function seamlessly together.