architectural renderings will open in 2018 .
the lucas museum board also credited chicago for providing a larger location ; its easy accessibility to public transportation ; and the fact it is video : george lucas ' museum in chicago , what you need to know “ star wars ” creator george lucas has selected chicago over los angeles and san francisco as the future home of his collection of art and movie memorabilia , according to a spokeswoman for the museum .
the decision to select chicago reflects both a bungling of the billionaire 's legacy project by the board of a national park in san francisco as well as an aggressive lobbying effort by mayor rahm emanuel .
pending approval by the chicago plan commission , lucas ' institution would be built on what are now parking lots between soldier field and mccormick place and would open in 2018 .
shortly after sneed ’s scoop that chicago had won the bidding war , lucas issued a statement from san francisco : “ building in chicago is the right decision for the museum , but the bay area will always be my home .
mayor rahm emanuel has won a fierce competition with los angeles and san francisco .
“ i am humbled to be joining such an extraordinary museum community and to be creating the museum in a city that has a long tradition of embracing the arts and architecture , ” lucas said in a statement .
he added , “ choosing chicago is the right decision for the museum , but a difficult decision for me personally because of my strong personal and professional roots in the bay area .
” chicago ’s lakefront museum campus will house the new $ 1 billion lucas museum of narrative art on a 17 - acre site located on parking lots between soldier field and mccormick place .