SmithGroup Completed Advocate Health Care Tower
The eight-story medical tower in Chicago was finished following a multi-phase construction project.
Updated on Oct. 2, 2026 in Construction
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SmithGroup has officially completed the second phase of the Advocate Health Care Center for Advanced Care in Chicago. The medical tower spans eight stories and sits just 18 feet from a Chicago Transit Authority line.
Why it matters
The project required an accelerated construction timeline due to the onset of the pandemic. Advanced structural designs were implemented to mitigate transit-related noise and vibrations for patients and staff.
The tower utilized a unitized curtain wall system featuring glass panel sizes ranging from 5.5 to 32 feet. Roughly 70% of envelope testing was completed off-site to support a 10-week reduction in enclosure installation time.
The players
SmithGroup
This is an integrated design firm that provides architectural, engineering, and planning services for large-scale healthcare and institutional facilities.
Turner Construction
This is a major North American construction services company known for managing large, complex commercial and industrial building projects.
Advocate Health Care
This is a prominent healthcare provider operating a network of hospitals and clinics across Illinois.
Chicago Transit Authority
This is the primary public transportation agency operating the bus and rail network throughout the Chicago area.
The details
General contractor Turner Construction utilized an Integrated Project Delivery approach to meet strict deadlines. The building envelope incorporates high-density rubber and structural thermal breaks to optimize the facility's performance.
Timeline
The project began as an addition to an existing building in 2018.
Advocate Health Care expects the third and final phase to be completed by 2030.
Market Landscape
The project demonstrates a broader shift toward collaborative construction models to manage complex urban site constraints. Using Integrated Project Delivery allows firms to better navigate the logistical challenges of high-density metropolitan development.
Patients and visitors can expect a facility designed specifically to minimize noise and vibration from nearby transit lines. The completion of this tower expands local access to specialized medical services within the Lake View neighborhood.
The takeaway
This project highlights how modular design and prefabrication can significantly accelerate timelines for complex healthcare infrastructure. Utilizing off-site testing and assembly offers a viable blueprint for future urban building projects facing tight physical constraints.
What happens next
Advocate Health Care anticipates the third and final phase of the medical center project will reach completion by 2030.
Further reading
For more information on similar urban developments, visit the Construction section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Architect’s Newspaper.
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