Groundbreaking: $100M Advocate Hospital Addition (PHOTOS)

Construction on Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center’s new Center for Advanced Care official kicked-off this past week when local government officials joined the center’s staff for a groundbreaking ceremony—in the winter.

Advocate’s team constructed a massive heated tent Wednesday and brought in some unfrozen soil so local officials like Ald. Tom Tunney (44th) and Rep. Sara Feigenholtz (12th) could actually break ground. And during speeches, both said they were happy to do so.

“When we get finished with this phase of the development, I hope it’ll be more competitive and beneficial for not only Lake View, but the City of Chicago,” Tunney said. “… What we do today is not only a shovel in the right direction, but a step in the right direction.”

Feigenholtz, who represents communities like Lake View and Lincoln Park, echoed Tunney’s sentiments. She said she grew up at Advocate while her mother practiced medicine there.

“I hope this place is a testament to all the good work its done for the community, at least as long as I’ve been here,” Feigenholtz said.

This is the first major new building to be built at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center in nearly 40 years.

Estimated to cost $109 million, the first phase of the project is to construct a new Center for Advanced Care. It will be Advocate’s new outpatient complex that essentially removes West Nelson Street between North Halsted and Sheffield Avenue to create a 156,000-square-foot hospital campus. Phase II, which is planned to be much larger, is slated for construction at an unknown date years from now.

In addition, Charles Gambill, chairman of the Masonic Family Health Foundation, also made a surprise $1 million donation to the hospital for charity. They’ve pledged to make a $10 million philanthropic contribution in addition to constructing the new center. 

The new Center for Advanced Care is expected to be completed in early 2015.

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