Northwestern Medicine Unveils Plans for New Cancer Care Tower in Streeterville

By Socialhood News · Il/Chicago/Streeterville · January 11, 2026

Northwestern Medicine has presented preliminary plans for a new hospital tower at 327 E. Huron Street in Streeterville, set to transform a long-vacant property that once housed the Lakeside Veterans Affairs Hospital tower, demolished in 2009. The site, bounded by E. Huron Street, N. McClurg Court, E. Erie Street, and N. Fairbanks Court, has remained vacant since the demolition.

The ambitious 1.2 million square foot tower is projected to begin construction in 2027, with preliminary work starting in late 2026 to remove the existing three-story basement from the former VA hospital. If approved by city authorities, construction is expected to be completed by 2031, with Power Construction and joint venture partner UJAMAA Construction leading the project. The new facility will consolidate oncology services currently spread across five buildings into one home for the Robert H. Lurie Cancer Center, while providing 226-314 new inpatient beds, five operating rooms, imaging suites, ambulatory clinics, infusion clinics, lab and pharmacy spaces, and ground floor retail presence.

This significant investment comes as Northwestern Medicine addresses critical healthcare needs, with the hospital currently experiencing the highest utilization of top hospitals in the market and the largest share of high acuity care. The expansion aims to address overcrowding and capacity issues while enhancing Northwestern's ability to provide specialized care to Streeterville residents and the broader Chicago community. Residents interested in learning more about the project can attend future community meetings as the design process continues to evolve.

Sources:
1. https://chicago.urbanize.city/post/northwestern-medicine-outlines-plan-new-hospital-tower
2. https://www.ctbuh.org/news/northwestern-memorial-plans-major-expansion-with-new-high-rise-in-chicago
3. https://chicagoyimby.com/2025/08/further-details-revealed-for-new-northwestern-hospital-tower-in-streeterville.html