UChicago Medicine marks one-year countdown to opening of AbbVie Foundation Cancer Pavilion

The University of Chicago Medicine is marking one year until the opening of the AbbVie Foundation Cancer Pavilion, a first-of-its-kind freestanding facility on the city’s South Side designed to redefine cancer care, research and the patient experience.

Scheduled to open in April 2027 on UChicago Medicine’s main campus, the 575,000-square-foot Cancer Pavilion is among the largest and most ambitious projects in the academic health system’s history. It also represents a major investment for Chicago’s South Side, aimed at expanding access to advanced cancer care and improving health equity in surrounding communities.

With construction entering its final phase, the project is now transitioning from structural development to preparations for full-scale clinical operations.

"The AbbVie Foundation Cancer Pavilion embodies our commitment to integrating cutting-edge science with compassionate patient care,” said Mark Anderson, MD, PhD, Executive Vice President for Medical Affairs at UChicago Medicine. “By bringing clinicians and researchers together in one place, we can accelerate discoveries and translate them more quickly into personalized treatments. This is more than a new facility; it is a catalyst for advancing the science of cancer and improving outcomes for patients in Chicago, the region and beyond."

The Pavilion will be Illinois’ first freestanding facility dedicated exclusively to cancer, bringing outpatient clinics, clinical trials, advanced imaging, infusion services and inpatient care under one roof. This integrated model is designed to strengthen coordination among multidisciplinary teams and create a more seamless patient experience.

The need for that approach is urgent. Inequities in cancer outcomes are driven in large part by inequities in access to prevention, early detection and specialized care

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention projects cancer rates will increase by 49% between 2015 and 2050. On Chicago’s South Side, cancer is the second-leading cause of death, and area residents are nearly twice as likely to die from cancer as those who live in other parts of the U.S. At the same time, a UChicago Medicine assessment found that about half of South Side patients leave the area to get the care they need.

"This environment will enable our teams to expand clinical trials, deepen patient-centered care, and confront longstanding disparities affecting our South Side community and the city,” said Kunle Odunsi, MD, PhD, Director of the UChicago Comprehensive Cancer Center. “By significantly expanding our capacity — with more beds, advanced diagnostic capabilities and a broader range of prevention and treatment programs — we can connect more patients to the care they need, closer to home."

Upcoming Milestones

Construction is advancing rapidly, with a major milestone ahead in September when the building reaches substantial completion and the building's name is formally placed on a monument. Until then, core building systems are coming online, from heating and cooling to ventilation and air handling. Procurement of medical equipment is also underway, with approximately 86% finalized and the remainder in late-stage evaluation. All major radiology and pharmacy equipment has been procured.

Operational planning is progressing in tandem. Teams have developed nearly half of the Pavilion’s new clinical workflows, designed to optimize patient care and operational efficiency. Training for thousands of staff members will begin later this year, followed by simulation exercises and full-scale “mock moves” in early 2027 to ensure a smooth opening.

The facility will include 80 inpatient beds, expanded infusion capacity operating seven days a week, and select services available 24/7 to meet growing demand for complex cancer care. Digital tools, real-time patient tracking and advanced care-coordination technologies will support a more connected, responsive care model.

The Pavilion lobby spaces also will feature a “town square” for the community and campus, with a conference hall, teaching kitchen, gift shops, a wellness center offering holistic oncology services, and a nondenominational chapel. A comprehensive survivorship program will support patients beyond active treatment. (Additional features are detailed on the project facts page.)

Building on Institutional Strengths

UChicago Medicine’s longstanding leadership in cancer care and community health underpins the Pavilion’s development. The $815 million construction project is being supported in part by a $75 million donation from the AbbVie Foundation, enabling UChicago Medicine to redirect resources toward programs that improve the health of the communities it serves.

UChicago Medicine is home to a National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center — one of only a select number in the nation and among just two in Illinois. For more than 17 years, UChicago Medicine has been nationally ranked among the top hospitals for cancer care and is recognized as a destination for patients with the most complex conditions.

Its physicians and scientists have led major advances in the field, including winning a Nobel Prize for discoveries concerning the hormonal treatment of prostatic cancer and becoming the first U.S. site to offer FDA-approved CAR T-cell therapy, a groundbreaking treatment for certain blood cancers in both adults and children. Today, more than 200 cancer specialists support over 300 active clinical trials, backed by tens of millions of dollars in research funding.

The Pavilion will also serve as a hub for expanding that expertise beyond Chicago. Through the UChicago Medicine Cancer Network, the health system is extending its academic model of cancer care and research to communities across the country, with AdventHealth Cancer Institute Shawnee Mission as its first national affiliate.

"The Cancer Pavilion is a landmark investment in the future of cancer care and healthcare delivery,” said Tom Jackiewicz, Health System President. “By expanding our reach through local and national partnerships, we are bringing the benefits of academic medicine to more patients and communities and extending the impact of our care far beyond our neighborhood.”