Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago announced today that it is beginning plans to develop a low-acuity pediatric hospital in the Downers Grove area — an important step in expanding access to world-class pediatric care for families in Chicago’s western suburbs.
The proposed hospital will be designed to meet the needs of a growing population of families in the region. Plans include a pediatric emergency department, surgery suites, inpatient beds and key pediatric subspecialties such as oncology, cardiology, gastroenterology and orthopedics, among others. The new facility would be Lurie Children’s first inpatient hospital outside its main location in Streeterville, Chicago.
“This is an exciting opportunity for Lurie Children’s to bring internationally recognized pediatric care closer to home for families in the western suburbs,” said Tom Shanley, MD, President & CEO of Lurie Children’s. “Just as important, we are committed to engaging the community — listening, learning and shaping this facility around the needs of the families we serve.”
Today, nearly half of children in the western suburbs, approximately 47 percent, must leave their community to receive inpatient pediatric care. The new hospital in Downers Grove is intended to help keep care local, coordinated and centered on children and their families, while also bringing new economic opportunities to the region.
“The Village of Downers Grove cares deeply about its community and works hard to facilitate support for its residents and visitors. We are excited to embrace Lurie Children’s mission to provide world-class care to children and their families. This new facility represents a significant and needed investment in local health infrastructure and pediatric health,” said Downers Grove Mayor Bob Barnett. “New healthcare facilities are about more than expanding services – they are about being there and caring for our neighbors. We look forward to working with the team at Lurie Children’s and welcoming them to the community.”
The Downers Grove-area hospital represents a key component of Lurie Children’s strategic growth initiatives, reflecting the organization’s evolution from a single hospital to an integrated pediatric healthcare system focused on expanding access, improving outcomes and delivering consistent excellence across communities.
“As part of our long-term strategy, expanding access to world-class pediatric care is one of our most important goals,” said Richard Lehmuth, Senior Vice President and Chief strategy Officer at Lurie Children’s. “This new facility will allow us to extend the same high standard of care families expect from Lurie Children’s — delivering that care in a setting that is closer, more convenient and designed with the help of the community.”
Like Lurie Children’s flagship hospital in Chicago, the proposed western suburban facility will be designed with patients and families in mind, featuring child-friendly environments that respect patients’ needs while maintaining the hospital’s hallmark commitment to excellence, compassion and family-centered care.
“This expansion reflects who we are as an organization — mission-driven, confident in our strategy and deeply committed to the communities we serve,” said Shanley. “Together with our extraordinary team members and community partners, we are shaping the future of pediatric care wherever children and families need us most.”
This announcement comes on the heels of Lurie Children’s opening a new, state-of-the-art outpatient center in Schaumburg in 2025. In addition to its main hospital in downtown Chicago, Lurie Children’s offers care through more than 20 outpatient centers and 10 partner hospitals across the Chicago area. Learn more about Lurie Children’s services and locations. Lurie Children’s is also preparing for the opening of the Austin HOPE Center this fall, which will include Lurie Children’s clinical and behavioral health services, as well as community health programs.
To support planning and delivery of the project, Lurie Children’s has engaged a design-build team led by Clayco, bringing together local and national healthcare design and construction expertise from Skender, ZGF, and LJC. Planning is in its early stages for the Downers Grove facility, which is subject to regulatory approvals. Lurie Children’s will share additional details as the process moves forward.
About Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago
Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago is a nonprofit organization committed to providing access to exceptional care for every child. It is the only independent, research-driven children’s hospital in Illinois and one of less than 35 nationally. This is where the top doctors go to train, practice pediatric medicine, teach, advocate, research and stay up to date on the latest treatments. Exclusively focused on children, all Lurie Children’s resources are devoted to serving their needs. Research at Lurie Children’s is conducted through Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute, which is focused on improving child health, transforming pediatric medicine and ensuring healthier futures through the relentless pursuit of knowledge. Lurie Children’s is the pediatric training ground for Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. It is ranked as one of the nation’s top children’s hospitals by U.S. News & World Report.
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