Lawsuit Alleges Racial Discrimination in Obama Center Construction

A Chicago-based concrete subcontractor, II in One Concrete, has filed a $40 million federal lawsuit against Thornton Tomasetti, the engineering firm overseeing the Obama Presidential Center project, alleging racial discrimination that has led to project delays and significant financial losses. The lawsuit claims that Thornton Tomasetti imposed stringent and unfair construction standards and subjected the subcontractor to excessive inspections, negatively impacting productivity and causing cost overruns. Robert McGee, the owner of II in One, argues that these actions were racially motivated, as his company faced harsher scrutiny compared to non-minority contractors. Thornton Tomasetti has denied any wrongdoing, attributing delays and overruns to II in One's alleged inexperience and performance issues. The Obama Foundation has stated that it would take appropriate actions if evidence of racist intent were found, but maintains confidence in Thornton Tomasetti's integrity. The lawsuit adds to ongoing challenges faced by the Obama Presidential Center, which has seen delays since its inception.