UChicago Medicine Cancer Pavilion

A community-centered approach to cutting-edge cancer care

University of Chicago Medicine Cancer Pavilion

Client: UChicago Medicine
Location: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Size: 575,000 square feet
Status: In progress

The incidence of cancer on the South Side of Chicago is projected to increase 19 percent in the next five years, compared to nine percent in the five counties surrounding the City of Chicago. Seeking to bridge the longstanding health disparities prevalent on the South Side for decades, UChicago Medicine is building Chicago’s first freestanding cancer center with inpatient and outpatient services alongside a wide swath of community prevention and education services.

CannonDesign, Blue Cottage of CannonDesign and Yazdani Studio are partnering on this transformative space that will boldly redefine how cancer is researched, diagnosed, treated, and ultimately prevented. Our wide range of services helps the storied institution reimagine the entire spectrum of cancer and patient care, from first visit to treatment to survivorship.

The building will span 575,000-square-feet with room for expansion, and includes 80 inpatient beds (64 medical-surgical beds and a 16-bed ICU), 90 consultation and outpatient exam rooms and a dedicated urgent care clinic to protect immunocompromised cancer patients from extended emergency room visits. Private infusion bays will be grouped by cancer type for patient comfort and privacy.

This world-class facility reflects our academic medicine mission of serving our community and patients by providing exceptional care driven by cutting-edge research.

Mark Anderson, MD, PhD Executive Vice President for Medical Affairs at the University of Chicago

Serving Chicago's South Side community is a big focus of this project, and the ground floor will serve as a 'town square' for both the University of Chicago campus and Hyde Park community. Other amenities include a café, wellness and meeting spaces, public art, educational opportunities and more. There will also be a pocket garden adjacent to the pavilion that will be accessible to the neighborhood.

University Chicago Medicine Cancer Pavilion Rendering 02

The project goals are lofty: To redefine cancer treatment and the cancer center typology. It will be designed to serve a wide spectrum of patient, clinician, research and community needs as it radically enhances the patient experience, drives the academic health system’s culture through immersive collaboration, and responds to future shifts in technology, diagnostics and/or treatment.

As one of only two National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers in the state, UChicago Medicine’s new facility is poised to become a destination for cancer care not only for the South Side but for Chicago and beyond. It will consolidate care that is currently spread across at least five buildings on UChicago Medicine’s Hyde Park campus.

This isn’t about incremental change, it’s about taking an extraordinary step toward eradicating cancer and creating new opportunities for the way we treat the disease in Chicago and globally.

Abbie Clary, FAIA Project Executive and Co-Director of CannonDesign’s Health Practice

Prioritizing the patient experience

Experience Strategy is a holistic approach to serving patients, families, and loved ones, our providers and care teams, and the communities we serve.

The approach to Experience Strategy is meant to encompass a holistic, tailored experience for patients, their families, and caregivers. UCM is improving the patient experience by creating welcoming environments that support the unique needs of each and every patient along with their families, centering the human experience amid the often-overwhelming world of comprehensive cancer treatment, and ensuring ‘life outside of cancer’ is fully supported. Equally critical is ensuring healthcare teams and staff are supported so they are empowered to deliver exceptional care and experiences to patients and their families.