Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich is scheduled to speak at a Nov. 9 groundbreaking ceremony for the Ismaili House of Worship and Center, at 100 Shermer Road, north of Golf Road. “The Foundation Ceremony is a significant milestone for both the village of Glenview and the Ismaili community,” said Dr. Mansoor Virani, president of the Ismaili Council for the Midwestern United States. The center “will be a unique structure that will contribute to the elegant architecture as well as the diversity of Glenview.”
The Village Board in May extended the center’s conditional use permit at the request of the site’s owners, members of a sect of Shiite Islam led by Prince Karim Aga Khan. The board originally approved the permit for the 30,450-square-foot center in May of 2006, but construction of the structure hadn’t begun within the 12-month period, as required.
Ismailimail 
After overcoming a push to keep the Ismaili community out, Ismaili Center of Glenview’s Foundation Stone Laying Ceremony was held on Friday, November 09, 2007 at 11:00 A.M. Speakers at the ceremony included Dr. Mahmoud Eboo, President of the Ismaili Council for the United States of America; the Hon. Kerry Cummings, Glenview President ; and the Hon. Rod Blagojevich, Governor state of Illinois. Gov. Blagojevich and Pres. Cummings laid the first mortar and pressed bricks in the facade, in a gesture of support for the Ismaili center. Work began Nov. 1, 2007 and is scheduled to continue till November 2008.
Architecture company Bailey Edward Design gave a visual presentation explaining how the architecture will reflect the diversity of the Ismaili community and the village of Glenview. The ceremony concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr. Mansoor Virani, President of the Ismaili Council for the Midwestern United States. Over 200 guests attended the event to witness the ceremonies. Leadership from numerous Islamic institutions and Mosques, Clergyman, Rabbi and local community leaders of many faith were among the guests.
The ceremony was followed by a reception, where guests viewed a model of the Ismaili Center. A vivid display highlighted the preservation of three classic Islamic architectural sites from the Aga Khan Development Network, which is a group of non-denominational agencies, that works to strengthen communities in Africa and Asia.
A 26,000-square-foot Glenview Ismaili Jamatkhana and community center to be built on 9.5 acres of manicured greenery at Shermer and Golf Roads will include a prayer hall that faces east, toward Mecca, as well as offices, classrooms and halls for social gatherings. Glenview was selected as the site for the center because many Ismailis have settled in the north suburbs since arriving from Africa and Asia.
The Glenview Village Board unanimously approved the center in 2006.
Work was delayed by an elaborate internal review process at the Ismaili institution’s highest levels.
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