Chicago Construction News staff writer
The University of Chicago Medicine is building a new cancer hospital on the South Side of Chicago, with a $75 million donation from the AbbVie Foundation.
The AbbVie Foundation Cancer Pavilion will be a 575,000-square-foot cancer care hospital located on East 57th Street, between South Maryland and South Drexel Avenues.
Designed by CannonDesign, the project received a foundation permit at the end of 2023 and a “core and shell” permit on May 9. Turner Construction broke ground on the $815 million project to build the state’s first and only standalone structure dedicated to cancer care and research last September. The 575,000-square-foot, seven-story pavilion builds off the University of Chicago’s decades of work and leadership in cancer research and its prestigious designation as a Comprehensive Cancer Center.
“We are deeply honored by this generous donation, as it strengthens our commitment to advancing the health and vitality of the community — a core priority of our South Side-based institution,” said Paul Alivisatos, president of the University of Chicago. “This significant contribution speaks to the confidence that the AbbVie Foundation has in UChicago as a pioneering medical institution dedicated to pursuing globally meaningful solutions to yet-unsolved challenges.”
The AbbVie Foundation is working to advance health equity, with a unique focus on empowering communities worldwide and accelerating innovative solutions to drive transformative change.
“The AbbVie Foundation is honored to deepen our longstanding partnership with UChicago Medicine, which is rooted in our shared mission to advance health equity,” said Claudia Carravetta, president, AbbVie Foundation, Vice President, Corporate Responsibility & Global Philanthropy, AbbVie. “We are proud to contribute to this state-of-the-art facility, which will support UChicago Medicine’s efforts to accelerate access and innovations in cancer care, addressing inequities and creating a remarkable impact for patients in Chicago’s South Side community and around the world.”
UChicago Medicine is home to one of only 72 hospitals in the U.S. — and one of two in Illinois — designated as a Comprehensive Cancer Center by the National Cancer Institute. It is the first U.S. site to offer FDA-approved CAR T-cell therapy, a groundbreaking approach to treating specific blood cancers in adults and children.
The AbbVie Foundation Cancer Pavilion represents one of the most significant investments made by UChicago Medicine in the South Side of Chicago.
“The gift will reinforce our efforts to enhance the network of care through initiatives like the South Side Healthy Community Organization and our Violence Recovery Program, all while we continue to serve as an economic catalyst for the community through employment and other opportunities,” said Thomas Jackiewicz, President of the University of Chicago Health System.
