The Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board has given the green light for the construction of a new medical building at 5654 S Drexel Avenue, within the University of Chicago. This development, driven by the university and UChicago Medicine, marks a significant milestone in the city's healthcare sector.
The new building is set to be the first free-standing cancer pavilion in Chicago and is being designed by CannonDesign, a local architectural firm. Strategically located at the intersection of S Drexel Avenue and E 57th Street, the building will replace a surface parking lot and become a hallmark of modern healthcare architecture.
Plans will include:
- Span 575,000 square feet, which is nearly the size of 10 football fields
- Consist of eight stories rising to a height of 162 feet, not including the basement
- The building's structure takes a loosely Y-shaped form
- garden plaza
- tree grove
- sitting spaces
- vehicle drop-off on Drexel Avenue
The lower level of the building is planned to house a 10,000-square-foot radiology center and will be surrounded by back-of-house rooms. In addition, a tunnel will connect it to existing loading docks across the street, ensuring seamless logistics. The main floor will feature:
- Glass clad lobby
- Cafe
- Innovation Center
- Imaging rooms
- Wellness center
- Breast cancer center
The second and third floors will house over 90 exam and infusion rooms, including:
- Outpatient services
- Patient/family lounges
- Waiting rooms
Floors above will contain:
- 80 inpatient rooms
- 16 rooms will be dedicated ICU beds
- Pharmacy
- Staff collaborative spaces
- Small terraces
With most of the building being clad in a curtain wall facade, patients will be able to enjoy ample natural light. White vertical panel strips accentuating the undulating form add to the aesthetic appeal.
The project has undergone some revisions since it was first announced in early 2022. Initially budgeted at $633 million, the investment has now swelled to $815 million to accommodate the growth in size to 575,000 square feet and the inclusion of additional amenities. About $100 million of this increase is attributed to the inflation in construction costs, while another $100 million is allocated for the additional planned spaces.
Chicago Yimby reports that a noteworthy aspect of this facility is its focus on community engagement. The ground floor is being redesigned as a “community hub” centered around cancer services and education, and will be open to the public. This decision was largely influenced by feedback from the surrounding community collected through surveys, telephone polls, town halls, and other avenues over the past 10 months. The community has expressed the need for an accessible and open facility.
The center is also aimed at consolidating cancer care, which is currently scattered across five UChicago Medicine buildings, and providing comprehensive cancer services for residents on the South Side. This consolidation will facilitate the provision of treatment, preventative, and remission services under one roof.
The building has been designed with future expansion in mind. It has the potential to be expanded to 10 stories if needed. Once operational in 2027, the center is expected to receive up to 200,000 outpatient visits and 5,000 inpatient admissions per year. Furthermore, it's expected to create around 800 permanent jobs and approximately 500 construction jobs.
This state-of-the-art facility is a testament to the University of Chicago's commitment to serving the community by providing exceptional care through cutting-edge research. The center will enable teams of scientists, physicians, and nurses to bring the latest technologies and advancements in cancer prevention, care, and therapies to patients.
This project represents an opportunity to showcase innovation, commitment, and the ability to adapt to the community's needs. It exemplifies how investments in healthcare facilities can foster positive change in communities and save lives.
