The cost to build former President Barack Obama’s namesake center campus rose to $615 million through the end of 2024, according to the latest reports from the Obama Foundation, quickly nearing the total construction budget as fundraising efforts continue to bring massive amounts of money into the foundation’s coffers.

That cost is more than double the earliest $300 million estimate from when the center was first contemplated. Foundation officials revised the estimate up to $500 million when the design was unveiled in 2017, then again in 2021 to $700 million for construction costs alone.

At the time, another $90 million was needed to prepare artifacts, exhibits and open the center itself, foundation officials said. $40 million would be needed for the first year of operating costs for t

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