“That is a hole that no subcontractor, small business can survive,” Owen said.
Owen and several other business owners described a construction process plagued by constant design revisions, repeated requests to redo completed work, scheduling disruptions, extensive oversight, and prolonged payment disputes that they say remain unresolved.
While some contractors chose to speak publicly, others declined interviews or requested anonymity, citing non-disclosure agreements and concerns that criticizing such a high-profile project could damage future business opportunities.
The complaints surfaced shortly after Fox News Digital reported that the Obama Foundation’s financial reserve—once promoted as a $470 million safeguard to protect taxpayers should the project face financial problems—had reportedly fallen to approximately $1 million.
Standing outside the newly completed presidential center, Owen reviewed financial documents and spreadsheets that he says detail millions of dollars in unexpected costs accumulated over several years.
According to Owen, the constantly evolving construction schedule forced his company to absorb additional labor expenses and overhead while adapting to shifting project requirements.
He says the financial burden has drained company reserves, placed jobs at risk, and created enormous stress for both management and employees.
“I haven’t had eight hours or six hours sleep in over a year,” Owen said. “I’m cooked emotionally. I feel like an aluminum can that’s been thrown in front of a steamroller. We’re crushed. And I have to fight for my company and for my people.”
The contrast between his company’s struggles and the celebratory atmosphere surrounding the center’s opening was difficult for him to watch.
As celebrities including Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder, and John Legend participated in pre-opening festivities, Owen said many contractors were still fighting simply to stay afloat.
“It was kind of hard seeing some local and national celebrities high-fiving and back-slapping here about the work that’s been done,” Owen said. “The backdrop of a coming celebration is kind of hard to swallow for me and for some of my peers at the moment.”
Owen emphasized that his decision to speak publicly came only after months of unsuccessful attempts to recover what he believes his company is owed.
“As for me and my company, I’m at the end of my rope and I see no other choice than to have to tell my story,” Owen said. “This is not to embarrass anybody, but this is just to make sure that the truth gets told out here of what has happened to the companies that poured their heart and soul into getting this job complete and operational.”
He argues that repeated delays, numerous redesigns, and more than 100 change-order requests saddled Adamson Plumbing with millions in unexpected expenses.
The Obama Foundation, which oversees the project, told Fox News Digital that it contracted Lakeside Alliance to manage construction. According to the foundation, Lakeside Alliance was responsible for hiring, supervising, and paying subcontractors. The foundation added that it has no unresolved billing disputes with Lakeside Alliance and noted that it has no direct contractual relationship with individual subcontractors.
Lakeside Alliance acknowledged that projects of this magnitude often involve complex issues that continue after construction is complete. The firm stated that approximately 475 contractors participated in building the center, creating significant economic opportunities, and said it remains committed to resolving any outstanding matters.
Neither the Obama Foundation nor Lakeside Alliance directly disputed claims from subcontractors who say they suffered substantial financial losses while working on the project.
Leaders representing Black-owned construction firms say many affected businesses have remained silent because they fear retaliation or jeopardizing future work opportunities.
“They are scared to death about talking about it,” Omar Shareef, president of the African American Contractors Association, told Fox News Digital outside the center.
Shareef said the complaints he’s heard over recent months are unlike anything he has experienced during his career.
“I’ve never seen this happen since I’ve been in business,” Shareef said. “The building does look nice, but the fact doesn’t matter that they’re not paying our damn contractors.”
Fox News Digital reported that it independently interviewed several additional contractors who echoed similar concerns.
According to Shareef, Black-owned subcontractors began privately contacting his organization roughly six months ago, describing severe financial hardship connected to the project.
“The promise was that this project was going to uplift minority contractors and uplift the community,” Shareef said. “What sense is celebrating Juneteenth if our Black contractors are not getting their money?”
He warned that many contractors have risked their businesses by financing work on the project.
“Some of the people have put their mortgages up, they’re going to lose their bonding… they are going to lose their relationship with their supplier as well as their banker.”
Shareef also cautioned that carrying large amounts of debt could prevent contractors from winning future projects.
“That’s a bad signal to put out the fact that seven to eight to maybe 10 of our contractors in our community are going to be eliminated from doing business because of the debt that they incurred on this particular project,” he said. “If they would have known it was a Trojan horse or a Pandora’s box, I don’t know if they would have raced as much as they did to be a part of it.”
Fox News Digital noted that it could not independently verify whether the financial losses would ultimately force contractors out of business.
One minority-owned subcontractor reportedly told Fox News Digital his company lost approximately $2.5 million after what was supposed to be a two-year contract stretched into nearly five years. He declined to speak publicly because of confidentiality agreements and ongoing negotiations.
The largest legal dispute surrounding the project involves the Concrete Collective, a joint venture that included Black-owned II in One Concrete along with Trice Construction and W.E. O’Neil Construction.
The partnership later filed claims exceeding $40 million, alleging substantial additional costs during construction. The dispute became tied to a racial discrimination lawsuit alleging minority contractors were treated unfairly throughout the project.
Defendants have denied those allegations, arguing portions of the concrete work required repairs because of cracking and other construction deficiencies. Court records indicate the litigation remains ongoing.
Fox News Digital also reported that at least two minority-owned subcontractors later sought Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Court filings do not establish that the Obama Presidential Center directly caused those financial difficulties.
Glass Management Services entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2024 and later informed the bankruptcy court that it was preparing litigation related to the Obama Presidential Center that could seek millions in damages. Fox News Digital reported it was unaware of any lawsuit ultimately being filed.
Another subcontractor, Vision Painting & Decorating Services, also filed for Chapter 11 protection in 2024 while listing its Obama Presidential Center contract in bankruptcy records. Court documents do not determine whether the project contributed to the company’s financial challenges.
Another subcontractor, who eventually recovered approximately $145,000 through a mechanic’s lien, still estimated that his company lost around $200,000 overall.
“Literally, I’ve been doing this for 35 years, and it was the worst-run job I’ve ever been on,” the subcontractor owner said.
He blamed repeated delays, excessive supervision, and what he described as unnecessary construction requirements.
“The stuff that they made everybody do was so over-the-top ridiculous,” the owner said.
Owen expressed similar frustrations, saying Adamson Plumbing was required to reconstruct portions of the project’s stormwater system at a cost approaching $900,000—work he believes was unnecessary.
Documents reviewed by Fox News Digital reportedly show that Chicago’s chief plumbing inspector later concluded Adamson’s original installation complied with city code.
Company records also indicate Adamson Plumbing submitted more than 100 change-order requests during construction, reflecting what Owen says was a project continually altered by revisions and delays.
Although Adamson Plumbing has not filed a lawsuit, Owen says the company continues pursuing payment through legal counsel.
Meanwhile, Fox News Digital found that two additional subcontractors filed mechanics’ liens totaling roughly $475,000 combined. It remains unclear whether those claims have since been resolved as questions surrounding the Obama Presidential Center’s construction continue to mount even as the landmark officially opens.
