Today, the Cook County Health (CCH), Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, and the Cook County Board of Commissioners broke ground on a new state-of-the-art health center in Chicago.

“The Central Campus Health Center represents a true and lasting commitment to the Cook County Health, the patients it serves, and our greater community,” said President Preckwinkle. “Today’s celebration is not just about the construction of a new building, but about the promise this project brings to people across Cook County who are in need of expert health care.”

The new 9-story, 282,000 square foot building located at the corner of Polk Street and Damen Avenue, will be completed in 2018. The construction of the new Central Campus Health Center represents a more than $100 million investment by Cook County.

“Thanks to the support from the Cook County Board of Commissioners, the health system will have the modern space and amenities it needs to thrive and expand its capacity to serve,” said M. Hill Hammock, Chair, CCH Board of Directors.

Clinical services provided in the new health center will include outpatient specialty services such as dental, ophthalmology, oncology, infusion, dermatology, diabetes and endocrine and adult medicine. The first four floors will house clinical space, with the remaining floors serving as administrative space. The flexible building design allows for administrative  to be turned in to clinical space as necessary.

“The new health center will provide our patients an updated, welcoming space, reflective of the high-quality care they receive,” said Dr. Jay Shannon, CEO, CCH. “With this project we are coming closer to realizing our future as a modern, integrated person-centered health system, providing expert care while fulfilling our historical mission to care for all in need. Our patients deserve no less.”

Demand for primary and specialty care on the Central Campus is significant. CCH cares for more than 300,000 unique patients across the county each year, seeing approximately one million outpatient visits annually- more than half of which take place on the health system’s Central Campus.

“The development of this health center will transform the inner core of Chicago’s West side,” said Cook County Commissioner Robert Steele. “In addition to better serving the patients of our county health system, the construction of the health center will generate new jobs, stimulating our local economy.”

With the new health center, CCH will be able to decommission the dilapidated Fantus Health Center, as well as the outdated Administration and Hektoen buildings. Together, these buildings would otherwise require $128 million in deferred maintenance.

“The Central Campus Health Center project is an exciting development opportunity for both the 27th Ward and all of Cook County; a welcomed addition to the Illinois Medical District and upgrade to the way specialized and ambulatory health care services are delivered to all its patients,” said Chicago Alderman Walter Burnett, Jr.

Clayco, the developer and design/builder in partnership with project manager CBRE, has assembled a world-class team including executive architect Forum Studio and design architect Gensler, along with numerous local minority- and women- owned business enterprises. The health center’s design is intended to meet LEED Silver standards for energy-efficiency and environmental impact.

“We are honored to be a partner in the development and delivery, of not only an amazing architectural building, but an integrated health center that meets patient needs,” said Robert G. Clark, CEO, Clayco. “We are committed to reaching out into the community for a diverse workforce and to truly make an impact in Cook County.”

The Central Campus Health Center building and a complimentary project to construct a women and children’s center inside CCH’ Stroger Hospital were approved by the Illinois Health Facilities Planning & Services Review Board in September 2016.