Cancer Care. Reimagined.

Kunle Odunsi, MD, Director of the Comprehensive Cancer Center, with a view of the Center for Care and Discovery in the background.

Cancer Pavilion Q&A Timeline and Milestones

AbbVie Foundation Cancer Pavilion: Opening in April 2027

As Chicago’s first freestanding cancer pavilion, this 575,000-square-foot facility will provide patients and the community access to the newest diagnostic innovations and leading-edge therapies.

Olatoyosi Odenike, MD, and patient in infusion bay

Providing Unparalleled Cancer Care

As one of only two NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers in Illinois and the only academic medical center on the city's South Side, UChicago Medicine is uniquely positioned to improve cancer care and outcomes in Chicago and the communities it serves.

view of the South Side from campus, with Center for Care and Discovery in foreground

Strengthening the Healthcare Ecosystem

The new cancer facility will add to an emerging ecosystem of healthcare on the South Side of Chicago, where community hospitals and UChicago Medicine play essential roles in ensuring residents get the right care at the right place at the right time.

UChicago Medicine executive and elected state and local officials participate in a groundbreaking ceremony.

Timeline

UChicago Medicine filed a request in January 2022 to the state regulatory board to spend money on design and site planning for the proposed center. Based on regulatory approval, the facility would open to patients in 2027.

rendering of proposed new freestanding cancer hospital

Cancer Center Facts

UChicago Medicine plans to establish the first freestanding facility dedicated to cancer care and research in Chicago. Here are highlights and other information about the proposed cancer center.

AbbVie Foundation Cancer Pavilion Beam-Signing Ceremony

Covered in more than 3,400 signatures and heartfelt messages, a 31-foot-long beam crowning our new cancer pavilion reflects the shared journey of those impacted by the disease.

Video Transcript

[MUSIC PLAYING] The University of Chicago has a long and proud legacy of driving progress in cancer research and cancer care. Within the walls of this cancer pavilion, patients will find not only just treatments but hope, hope born out of groundbreaking clinical trials, personalized therapies, and compassionate care. Every beam lifted and every detail completed has been guided by the profound understanding of the impact that this facility's going to have on this local community. This is a very important moment. It represents that moment of partnership, that moment of care and the moment of need. We had leaders from the organization, members of our community advisory council, patients, families, people that are working on the project all come together for the original signing of the beam. Patients are everything. I have the best job in the world. People always used to come up to me and say, boy, it must be really depressing to take care of cancer patients. And I tell them always that it's the most uplifting thing in the world. It feels great. It feels great to me. It's feel good for someone from the South Side of Chicago and also as a member of University of Chicago because I'm not only I'm a patient at UFC and also I'm an employee here. Today we're doing the beam raising, which is a tradition in construction. As many people know. The design of the building, the facade, everything on the inside is all cutting edge technology to support the physicians and their mission to treat and cure cancer. It's just a really rewarding project to be a part of because you're giving back to the community, and our team is certainly proud to be here. We are confident that the AbbVie Foundation Cancer Pavilion will be a place where we can shape the future of oncology, find cures for cancer, and reduce the cancer burden in underserved communities like our own community here in the South Side of Chicago. This building will be the state's first and only freestanding facility dedicated to cancer care and research. Please let's express our thanks to all the workers who are building this very special facility with a round of applause. [APPLAUSE]