Benefits and innovations

The Lurie Matching Challenge Grant for Medical Research Facilities will usher in a new era of pediatric research. Read more.

Children's Memorial is building a state-of-the-art facility — Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago — to provide highly specialized care for children. Moving to the campus of our academic partner, Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, will help us recruit top pediatric specialists and scientists, and leverage clinical, educational and research partnerships that will drive advances in pediatric health care, benefitting countless children.

Innovative facility and program highlights

Acuity-adaptable comprehensive cardiac unit: A pioneering concept in pediatrics, this 36-room cardiac unit will provide expertise and technology for intensive care, while offering family amenities of acute care units. Keeping patients in the same room with the same caregivers from admission to discharge improves safety and creates better outcomes.

Neurocritical care program: We will be at the forefront by offering a multidisciplinary program to treat neurological problems in intensive care. We already provide training in this emerging pediatric subspecialty, and have launched a center to conduct clinical and basic research into brain injuries and other critical neurological conditions.
View Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago fact sheet
Expanded space for clinical research: A larger outpatient clinical research center with a pharmacy, specialized staff and data analysis systems, will be located next to a 12-room inpatient unit available for children participating in clinical trials who need to stay overnight for monitoring.
Minimally invasive surgical suites: All 26 operating/procedure rooms will be equipped for advanced minimally invasive surgery. We will become a key center for training and research in this rapidly growing area.
Pediatric autonomic medicine center: We will expand facilities for our current program – the only one in the world – that treats and studies abnormalities in systems that regulate breathing, heart rate, temperature and other related processes. The center’s team is driving clinical and genetic discoveries in this new field.
Take a look inside Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago. Watch video »
Advanced imaging technology: Our new facility will accommodate more of the latest imaging technology, including a PET CT scanner, important for functions such as evaluating success of chemotherapy.
Private rooms: All 288 licensed inpatient beds will be in private rooms, including the neonatal intensive care unit. Private rooms help control infection and reduce noise, which is proven to speed healing.
Creative public spaces: Chicago’s top cultural and civic institutions are helping us design playful, educational and healing environments. View images and a complete list of participants >>
Green design: Hospital plans feature sustainable "green" design with Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.

Benefits of our new location

Research collaboration: Proximity to researchers in adult medicine will strengthen existing partnerships, stimulate new ideas, and help us recruit talented physician-scientists – essential to providing cutting-edge treatments.
Pediatric/adult clinical programs: Our new location will promote greater clinical collaboration with adult experts, and allow opportunities to develop programs in areas such as fetal surgery and bariatric surgery.
Speedy transport for critically ill newborns: Our adjacency to Prentice Women’s Hospital will allow faster and safer transfer for newborns who require surgery or pediatric subspecialty services.
Facilitating transition to adult care: Proximity to Northwestern Memorial Hospital and the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago will ease transition into adult care for patients with congenital heart disease, spina bifida, and other conditions that children now survive.

Our planning process

Engaging our staff: More than 600 employees and physicians continue to be involved in the design and programming process.
Listening to patients and families: Our Kids' Advisory Board and Family Advisory Board provided critical advice on planning every step of the way. Their unique insight into the patient experience is invaluable to the planning process.
Mock-up rooms: We erected a full-scale mock-up room in the Siragusa Lobby of Children’s Memorial Hospital with a computer for families, visitors and employees to provide feedback on the design. Additional mock-up rooms will be created for clinical staff from specific units. This crucial testing process will include videotaped simulations of providing patient care in the new environment to ensure an optimal care experience.
Working with our future neighbors: Since the announcement of the location, we've worked together with Alderman Brendan Reilly (42nd Ward) and Streeterville community organizations, condo boards, residential associations and businesses to gather their input on our hospital plans. Children's Memorial is committed to continuing to work with Alderman Reilly and the Streeterville community as we proceed with our plans. We welcome your feedback!