The George W. Bush Presidential Center on the Southern Methodist University campus in University Park north of Dallas opened on April 25, 2013, as the home of George W. Bush’s presidential library and museum, policy institute, and foundation offices, and it was chosen as the eventual burial place of Bush and Laura Bush. After a competitive and sometimes contentious selection process, SMU secured the project in 2008. Designed by Robert A.M. Stern, the complex combined major fundraising with environmentally focused design that earned LEED Platinum certification. Its dedication drew all living U.S. presidents and thousands of guests, underscoring its importance as both an archival repository and an active public policy institution.