Advocate Health is asking Springfield for the green light on a nearly $100 million comprehensive cancer center at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, a move that would pull together outpatient oncology services now scattered across the campus. The plan calls for a two-floor addition to the hospital’s Center for Advanced Care and an overhaul of nearby outpatient laboratory space. Hospital leaders say the revamped complex is meant to boost infusion, transplant, and cellular-therapy capacity while centralizing hematology and oncology clinics so patients are not trekking from one corner of the campus to another.
In its state filing, Advocate pegs the project at about $99.1 million and outlines roughly 77,605 square feet of new construction alongside modernization of about 5,813 square feet of existing space, for a total of around 83,000 square feet, as reported by Crain's Chicago Business. The two-floor build-out would connect directly to the Center for Advanced Care and pull outpatient oncology services into a single, integrated destination. The application says the project is expected to be completed and fully operational by the end of 2028, according to the Chicago Tribune.
Advocate submitted its proposal to the Illinois Health Facilities & Services Review Board, the state panel that reviews major hospital construction and modernization plans and decides whether they move forward. The process can involve staff analyses, public comment, and, in some cases, a public hearing before the board issues a final ruling, per the Illinois Health Facilities & Services Review Board.
What the center would add
According to the application, the project is built around consolidating a full slate of hematology and oncology clinics, an expanded transplant and cellular-therapy (TCT) program, and infusion services under one roof. The plan also calls for an updated outpatient laboratory in the adjacent building and additional room for clinical trials, supportive care, and patient navigation services, as detailed by Crain's Chicago Business.
Where this fits in the Chicago market
Advocate’s Park Ridge pitch lands in the middle of a regional arms race in cancer care. In the western suburbs, Duly Health & Care has rolled out its Brian Moran Cancer Institute in Lisle, with an opening date of Dec. 15, 2025, as part of a push to expand suburban oncology access. Duly Health & Care announced the project as a cornerstone of its recent building spree.
On the South Side, University of Chicago Medicine is in the middle of constructing a 575,000-square-foot freestanding cancer pavilion slated to open in 2027, a build that aims to significantly grow both inpatient and outpatient cancer capacity in Hyde Park. CBS Chicago has been tracking that project and its timeline.
Endeavor Health has also filed sizable plans to ramp up cancer services at Elmhurst and other campuses, while heavyweight systems including Northwestern and Rush are pursuing their own oncology expansions to meet growing outpatient demand. Local reporting has outlined Endeavor’s Elmhurst proposal, which is tied to a major capital project and state review. Coverage from Shaw Local, along with resources from Northwestern and Rush University, shows how the city’s largest players are building out cancer centers and clinical trial access points.
Regulatory next steps
If the state board formally accepts Advocate’s filing for review, staff will prepare a report, and the board will open a period for written public comment and, if requested, a hearing before voting on the permit. The board’s mandate is to weigh whether projects reflect documented community needs and avoid piling on duplicative services, according to the Illinois Health Facilities & Services Review Board. If the project secures approval, Advocate would move to construction in line with the end-of-2028 operational target laid out in its application.
For patients in Park Ridge and nearby north suburbs, the Lutheran General proposal would mean more oncology services and infusion capacity concentrated close to home, instead of spread across multiple buildings. In the bigger picture, it is one more sign that health systems see cancer care, particularly outpatient cancer care, as a critical battleground for investment. Advocate did not immediately respond to requests for more detail on its projected timeline or staffing plans for the new center.
