Left For Dead, Cook County Hospital Resuscitated by Hyatt
Some buildings become neglected. Some become abandoned. And then there’s the former Cook County Hospital, which was neglected, kicked out of the house, mugged, drugged, dumped in an alley, had its shoes stolen, and left for dead behind a Dumpster. But at least it wasn’t torn down. The former Cook County Hospital in March, 2009 It’s that last fact which allows us to tell you that you can now spend the night in the...
Photos Inside a Chicago Hospital Built For Pandemics
With Chicago coping with the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve seen many stories about how the city’s medical professionals and institutions are fighting the threat head-on. One of those places on the front lines is Rush University Medical Center. Rush University Medical Center in December 2011 After weeks of preparation, Rush went into “surge mode” almost a month ago. Its hospital tower, perched on the edge of the...
Old Cook County Hospital Building Gets a $3 Million Preservation Boost
You can do lots of things with money. You can help someone in need. You can buy a cat. And with enough of it, you can save the old Cook County Hospital Building. The former Cook County Hospital (March 2009) A big step in the direction of saving that structure is coming from the State of Illinois, which has chosen the vacant hospital building to receive three million dollars in tax credits for its rehabilitation. The money comes...
First of Two New Medical District Towers Detailed
The first of two new buildings planned for Ashland Avenue in the Illinois Medical District has made it onto paper. The new 19-story residential tower at 801 South Ashland has been anticipated for about a year, since KIG issued a press release stating that it formed a partnership with Guggenheim Real Estate, Atlantic Realty Partners and Focus Development for a $111 million expansion of the existing two-tower property. The plan now is...
Illinois Medical District Project to be Renovated, Expanded
Between medical personnel, support staff, students, and others in allied fields, there’s always been a big demand for housing in the Illinois Medical District area. At the same time, there’s been precious little large-scale development in the area. But the development frenzy that is echoing from downtown Chicago into the neighborhoods is finally reaching this corner of the city with a project from Guggenheim Real Estate. You may know...
Wrecking Ball Flays Rush University Medical Center’s Jones Building
The countdown began in September, when the City of Chicago issued four demolition permits for Rush University Medical Center to tear down four buildings on their west side campus. The oldest of those structures, the Jones Building, is the first to meet the wrecking ball. Built in 1888 as the Daniel A. Jones Hospital, the Jones Building at 1753 West Congress Parkway became obsolete when Rush completed its state-of-the-art, $575-million...
Victorian-Era Chicago Building Being Demolished For Nothing
Perched on the banks of that taillight tributary called Congress Parkway sits one of Chicago’s oldest buildings. But not for long. Demolition crews are revving their engines to eviscerate Rush University Medical Center’s Jones Building (1753 West Congress Parkway), a Victorian-era pile that is part of a hospital so venerable that it’s older than the city, itself. The building in question is Rush’s Jones...
Second Cook County Hospital Charrette Brings Out Creative Options
Anybody who was nostalgic about the old Cook County Hospital building was neither a doctor nor a patient there. —Dr. John Jay Shannon, CEO of Cook County Health and Hospital System Toward the end of a lively discussion about the future of the old Cook County Hospital on October 7 hosted by the Chicago Architecture Foundation, Dr. John Shannon addressed the audience and spoke on behalf of a doctor who actually worked at the facility 14...
Lubing Up the Paddles to Give Old Cook County Hospital One Last Jolt
With October upon us, around the country countless carneys are busy setting up seasonal haunted houses. And one of the most popular themes is the abandoned hospital. But Chicago doesn’t need an army of carneys to erect a house of horrors, because the city has its own massive, scary-looking abandoned hospital just a stone’s throw from downtown. But after years of absorbing rain and pigeon droppings, the first baby steps...
Building Updates
Another round of updates has been made to Chicago Architecture Info. Here are the specifics: New Buildings Rush University Medical Center Hospital Tower 333 South Ashland Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communication Notre Dame de Chicago Church Oxxford Clothes Factory Rush University Medical Center Triangle Office Building Rush University Medical Center Westgate Building Rush University Medical Center Midwest Orthopedic...
