Further details and renderings have been revealed for the upcoming Robert H. Lurie Cancer Center at 333 East Huron Street in Streeterville. Set to replace one of the largest vacant lots downtown, the new tower will be an expansion of Northwestern Memorial Hospital and would add to the city’s cancer-focused facilities, like the new University of Chicago’s AbbVie Cancer Center.
Site map of Robert H. Lurie Cancer Center by Perkins&Will
Details were initially revealed nearly a year ago, marking the potential end to the fenced-off, grass-covered lot which was the former home of the Lakeside Veterans Affairs Hospital, demolished by Northwestern in 2009. The university has been working with architecture firm Perkins&Will on the 24-story structure that will sit on the western end of the site.
Rendering of Robert H. Lurie Cancer Center by Perkins&Will
Section program of Robert H. Lurie Cancer Center by Perkins&Will
The 427-foot-tall tower will re-utilize many of the remaining caissons from the demolished hospital, adding depth to some and a few new ones as well. This will support a four-story underground structure with three levels of parking and one level of support spaces, containing a total of 600 spaces for visitors and staff. This will be accessed from Huron.
Section of Robert H. Lurie Cancer Center by Perkins&Will
The ground floor above will feature a pedestrian entry plaza on the corner of Fairbanks Court and Erie Street. This will connect to a vehicle drop-off loop along Erie, and a large retail space with an outdoor patio along Fairbanks. The rest of the floor will hold the phlebotomy department along with a massive elevator bank for the upper levels.
Site plan of Robert H. Lurie Cancer Center by Perkins&Will
Rendering of Robert H. Lurie Cancer Center by Perkins&Will
Within the rest of the four-story podium will be a large kitchen, imaging center, surgical services center, additional retail, excess space for future expansions, and pedestrian bridges to the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab and the Feinberg Pavilion, where patients will have direct access to its surgical facilities. The podium will be capped by a large rooftop garden and hospital offices.
Rendering of Robert H. Lurie Cancer Center by Perkins&Will
The first portion of the tower through floor 14 will contain a three-story utility plant, multiple pharmacies, various clinics like oncology, cellular therapy, and oncology triage, as well as space for various other outpatient services like therapeutics, infusion, urology, and more. The next six floors will hold 216 beds, with a shell seventh level above to expand up to 252 beds.
Rendering of Robert H. Lurie Cancer Center by Perkins&Will
Rendering of Robert H. Lurie Cancer Center by Perkins&Will
Capping the structure will be another two-story utility plant and mechanical penthouse. The structure will be clad in a glass curtain wall with vertical metal fins, similar in style to the hospital’s other recent additions. The team will now pursue certification from the state prior to beginning site demolition work this fall.
The new building itself is expected to begin construction in spring 2027 and be completed in 2031, per a community presentation this week.
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Skybridges are an eye sore…
In the medical world, they are an important piece of infrastructure.
These bridges allow all these individual hospitals to be connected as one, creating a massive network of facilities. A child at Children’s Memorial can move to a different facility without risking exposure outside if immune compromised. Underground tunnels would be substantially more complicated to work around. Having a view of the outside also boosts mental health. Someone can see the seasons change, interact with the street, see Christmas lights, or watch a peaceful snowfall.
Compared to crumbling concrete brutalist ones from the 70’s, these are much more elegant. I’d take the practicality of these bridges for patient safety than risk a cancer patient catching a cold any day.
Boooooo, they tore down a masterpiece for this?!
What masterpiece?
If referring to Prentice Women’s Hospital, it’s been replaced for year on the site to the north. Wrong block.
And if talking about that hospital, it sadly was incapable of reuse without gutting almost everything within. The construction had too thick of concrete to get IT services to work. Simply drilling holes through the slabs was hell.
As a maternity ward, the rooms were depressing and having extreme imagining equipment next to expecting mothers is maybe not the best balance of a building. That was the last two uses before demolition.
If talking about the old Veterans Admin Research Hospital, I’m not sure I see the vision. Gang’s Rush hospital, gorgeous. Overall, I view hospitals as best to maximize the efficiency of lot and provide positive interiors that encourage healing. I know there’s some unique hospitals in the world, but most are far from dense urban environments and surrounded by an enclave of nature. Major cities don’t have that luxury. A little more green space for staff wouldn’t hurt, but medical equipment is a b*tch to fit into plan.
I’m simply pleased to witness expanded services for cancer victims. The large rooftop garden inn of itself can add to the research and public benefit component as we explore forest or nature bathing as therapy. The phlebotomy department can be a vocational entryway for CPS Duel credit programming. It’s important we keep thinking through built environments matching up with Unbuilt via natural spaces. Thanks Northwestern University!
I guess the best thing is that there is no hideous parking deck. I’m glad they made an underground lot rather that the latter.
For Northwestern, design wise this is the best you’re gonna get. Prior buildings were just beige concrete, rinse and repeat. Here you have steel and glass, underground parking. I’ll take the win