The Catalyst: 2024 Special Edition - Illinois Medical District

From the CEO

A year of IMD firsts

Greetings Friends,

Welcome to the 2024 Special Edition of The Catalyst!

2024 has been a transformative year for the IMD, marked by many firsts: new plans, public spaces, developments, events and visitors. This year brought rapid visible change, with significant milestones achieved across our public infrastructure, medical centers, and partner organizations, laying a foundation for benefits that will last generations. Reflecting on 2024, I’m incredibly proud of what our team and partners accomplished:

IMDC staff post in front of the new IMD Welcome Plaza sign.

New Infrastructure: Our Bike and Pedestrian Safety Plan (BPSAP) and continued street improvements are making our community safer for all whether you walk, bike, or roll.
New Public Spaces: The Welcome Plaza at 1900 W Harrison St is open, and plans are underway for a future park at 2023 W Ogden Ave to enhance the livability of the IMD.
New Community Events: Summer celebrations set new standards, bringing residents and visitors together in-person in meaningful ways. A highlight was the IMD Arts Fest 2024: Dream Big during the DNC, a collaboration with the IMD Arts Council showcasing IMD partners, local artists, vendors, creativity and community spirit.

More recently, two new developments opened their doors in the IMD:

Foglia Residences at The Chicago Lighthouse: Located at 1134 S Wood St and developed by Chicago Lighthouse, Foglia Residences is a 76-unit residential building designed for tenants who are blind, visually impaired, disabled, or veterans. These beautiful units have been specially designed to promote independent and safe living. Notably, Foglia is the first residential development serving the disabled community in the nation to be financed through low-income housing tax credits.
Hampton Inn & Suites: Part of the IMD Gateway development, Hampton Inn & Suites is a 135-room hotel that adds to the IMD’s growing lodging options. Conveniently located near restaurants and public transportation, the hotel features thoughtful amenities, including a saltwater pool on the first floor, and is already welcoming guests to the IMD.

CEO and Executive Director Allyson Hansen with Alderman Walter Burnett, Jr. at the 2024 Rise to Shine Run & Walk in the IMD.

On Sunday, October 20 we were proud to host hundreds of racers in the IMD for the third annual Chicago Lighthouse Rise to Shine Run & Walk, Chicago’s only race that prioritizes accessibility for all. It’s inspiring to watch this event grow more and more each year, and I look forward to seeing even more participants running alongside us next year. To view results or photos from the race, click here.

Time flies when you’re making honey! This year, our urban beekeeping program, launched in partnership with UI Health, celebrated its first fall honey harvest. In November, we hosted an interactive workshop with our partner Alvéole, where participants learned beekeeping techniques and harvested honey from the IMD hives. As winter sets in, our bees are staying cozy in their hive but will be back in action next year, producing more local IMD honey. So, if you spot a jar of IMD honey at a future meeting or event, you’ll know its sweet origin! Follow the hive’s journey on their MyHive page.

[GUEST HOUSE SOCIAL EMBED]

More recently, in December IMD Commission staff took an excursion to Guest House to learn about the compassionate work they do providing safe, comfortable, affordable temporary housing for patients and their families who visit the IMD or Chicago for medical care. For less than the cost of a typical hotel, patients and their families can enjoy the comforts of home so they can focus on healing, and no family is turned away for financial reasons. To learn more, including how to support them, visit their website.

Outgoing IMDC CFO Tom Strachan.

Lastly, on behalf of the IMD Commission, we extend our sincere gratitude to Tom Strachan, who departed his role as the CFO in December after years of steady financial leadership. His contributions have left a lasting impact, and we wish him well. The search for a new CFO is underway and we look forward to welcoming a new face to the IMDC next year.

As we enter the holiday season, we’re filled with gratitude for the support of the IMD community and our civic leadership. Please enjoy this special edition of The Catalyst — thank you for being a friend of the IMD and please remember to shop local and support the organizations doing great work in and around the IMD.

On behalf of the IMD Commission, I wish you and your loved ones a happy and healthy holiday season and a joyous new year!

Sincerely,

Allyson Hansen

CEO and Executive Director

2024 in the IMD

Infrastructure and Planning: Building the IMD

IMDC awarded $600,000 grant to improve public parks and recreation projects

Illinois Department of Natural Resources logo.

In January, the IMD Commission (IMDC) was proud to receive notice that we had been awarded a $600,000 matching grant from the State of Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) to improve our public parks and recreational opportunities for the IMD community.

“Since day one as Governor, it’s been my mission to support the health and well-being of Illinoisans,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “With [these funds] municipalities across Illinois will have the opportunity to expand and improve local neighborhood parks through sport and recreational space, plants, playgrounds, and more. All across Illinois, we’re enhancing our state’s natural beauty and creating safer, healthier, and happier communities.”

“An investment in the outdoors is an investment in the health and well-being of the people of Illinois,” said IDNR Director Natalie Phelps Finnie. “We know that 83% of Illinoisans consider access to outdoor recreational opportunities important for them and their families. And studies show time and again that that getting outside leads to better overall health.”

We extend our sincerest thank you to the State of Illinois and IDNR for these funds that will go a long way toward making big improvements to the available green space and recreational amenities in the IMD.

Bike and Pedestrian Safety Action Plan announced

On March 27, we were proud to announce our Bike and Pedestrian Safety Action Plan (BPSAP), a significant milestone in our commitment to improving safety for our 90,000 daily visitors whether they walk, bike, or roll. The plan, when implemented, will transform key intersections in the IMD, prioritizing accessibility while reducing traffic accidents and fatalities.

This BPSAP was led by IMDC with support from Sam Schwartz, R.M. Chin & Associates and Site Design Group and included IMD stakeholder and community engagement. Funding was provided by Invest in Cook, a grant program from the Cook County Department of Transportation and Highways (DoTH). The plan includes:

Transformative projects;
Recommendations for improved bike and pedestrian infrastructure;
A toolbox of items already available to improve traffic safety;
An existing condition report with past and pending infrastructure projects; and
Traffic data and strategies for implementation.

To read or download the BPSAP, click here.

To watch what people have been saying about the BPSAP in the news, click here.

IMD Welcome Plaza opens

On August 15 the IMD Commission — joined by Vice Mayor and 27th Ward Alderman Walter Burnett, Jr., Deputy Mayor of Business and Neighborhood Development Kenya K. Merritt, Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) Commissioner Tom Carney, and over thirty civic leaders from the City, County, City Colleges, hospital systems, non-profit organizations, community members and more — gathered to officially open the new IMD Welcome Plaza!

Located at 1900 W Harrison St, the Welcome Plaza is a new public space for the IMD and west side community. The IMD Welcome Plaza features large illuminated “IMD” letters, seating, and landscaping for the public, and will serve as an instantly recognizable gateway welcoming visitors to the IMD and Chicago for years to come.

The IMD Welcome Plaza with seating and landscaping.

The IMD Welcome Plaza was one of five transformative projects identified when we announced our historic Bike and Pedestrian Safety Action Plan (BPSAP) on March 27, 2024.

In addition to the new Welcome Plaza, the span of S Wolcott Ave to the directly adjacent to the east has been pedestrianized with planters to create a safe refuge island for pedestrians and cyclists. Planning is still underway for a ground mural in that space, so stay tuned for more on that in the coming year.

Landscape architecture design for future public park

2023 W Ogden Ave being demolished, site of the future park.

This summer, the old building at 2023 W Ogden Ave that we previously partnered with local graffiti artists to beautify was demolished to make way for a new public space at that site.

The IMDC requested proposals to provide landscape architecture and design services that were inspirational and create alignment between the IMD and its anchors with the goal to create a public park that benefits all workers, students, patients, and visitors in the IMD.

The final selection was Site Design Group to lead the project. Stay tuned for more information in early 2025 as we kick off our community engagement efforts so your voice can be heard about what you would like to see in that location.

New COO; CFO departs

Cathy Kwiatkowski, Chief Operating Officer

This summer, Cathy Kwiatkowski joined the Illinois Medical District Commission (IMDC) as our new Chief Operating Officer. Cathy brings over 20 years of strategic vision and planning skills in executing complex multijurisdictional projects and communications initiatives, with an emphasis on public engagement, diversity and inclusion.

Prior to her new role at the IMDC, Cathy served the State of Illinois Department of Central Management Services (CMS) in a dual role, on the Executive Team as Senior Policy Advisor and as the Head of the Illinois Office of Communication and Information, leading internal and external communications and strategy for the State of Illinois’ management and operational services agency serving more than 80 agencies, boards and commissions. She coordinated strategic communications with the Office of the Governor and Office of the Lt. Governor and managed coordination of diversity, equity and inclusion communications efforts. You can email Cathy at ckwiatkowski@medicaldistrict.org.

Tom Strachan with UIC UPP MCD students in the IMD Gateway.

And in December, the IMDC bid farewell to Tom Strachan, our long-serving Chief Financial Officer. Tom served the IMDC for years during a period of record growth and change and are thankful for his lasting contributions to the IMD. The search is now underway for a new CFO to join the IMDC and we look forward to welcoming a new face to the team in next year.

Development: Growing the IMD

Foglia Residences now open

Foglia Residences from the Chicago Lighthouse in the IMD.

Located at Roosevelt Rd and S Wood St, the Foglia Residences from the Chicago Lighthouse opened their doors to the public in October.

The Foglia Residences are a 76-unit apartment building providing affordable and accessible housing for people living with a disability. They were built with accessibility in mind, with important features throughout designed to make it easier to navigate for those with visual impairments.

An example of the high-contrast interior design, important for those with sight issues.

With thoughtful features throughout, including tactile braille aids, bright paint with contrasting colors, and minimizing or reducing glare wherever possible, Foglia is the latest chapter in Chicago Lighthouse’s mission to allow people with disabilities to live equitably and independently in their community so they can thrive on their own terms.

Check out some of the headlines from the grand opening here and here.

Hampton Inn & Suites IMD now open

A room at the new Hampton Inn & Suites IMD awaits its first guests.

A new hotel — the Hampton Inn & Suites IMD — began welcoming guests to the IMD this fall. Located in the Gateway Retail Development, the Hampton features beautiful guest rooms, meeting spaces, and a pool.

The new pool at the Hampton Inn & Suites IMD.

Follow them on Instagram and Facebook to stay in the loop about events and special offers, and for any questions, feel free to reach out to Marlena Karwowski, Director of Sales and Marketing, at marlena.karwowski@hilton.com.

New residential building approved

1612 W Hastings St, site of the residential development.

Approval was granted for construction of a new three-story 6-unit residential masonry building at 1612 W Hastings St in the IMD at the former site of the Urban Prairie Waldorf School.

Stay tuned for more as this development progresses and we welcome new residents to the IMD.

Events: Connecting the IMD community

IMD Arts Fest 2024: Dream Big

IMD “Wall of Firsts” murals.

In August, the IMD Commission — in partnership with Cook County Health, G Events, S.H.E. Gallery, Vertiport Chicago, The Chicago Lighthouse, and The Stark Solution — was proud to host Arts Fest 2024: Dream Big!

Mariachi Guadalajara perform at IMD Arts Fest.

The event took spanned across the new IMD Welcome Plaza, S Wolcott Ave and the green space owned by Cook County across from the Hyatt Place IMD. The event featured an original IMD “Wall of Firsts” Mural by Damon Lamar Reed, a live interactive graffiti demonstration by local artists Take2 and Fesski, and Dreamcatchers by One Lawndale Children’s Discovery Center.

Arts Fest attendees enjoying their lunch in the new IMD Welcome Plaza.

The “Wall of Firsts” murals feature noteworthy medical trailblazers with a link to the IMD along with inspirational quotes, so be sure to check them out if they pop up at an IMD event near you.

There were also live performances, including a choir by Soul Children Chicago, rap by Jamar Biggz, soul funk by Sapphire Street, DJ by Jesse De La Pena, Mariachi Guadalajara, and flamenco dancing.

Urban Autism Solutions Growing Solutions Farm at IMD Arts Fest.

Guests were able to enjoy tacos by Masa Brothas, Pizza by Pompei, Poffertjes by Puffy Houzz, fresh local produce grown in the IMD from Urban Autism Solutions Growing Solutions Farm, and fresh flowers from Flowers for Dreams.

Mental Health events

We hosted two mental health focused events in 2024 to shine light on this important aspect of health.

In August, the IMDC was proud to host a discussion with former Congressman Patrick J. Kennedy about current national mental health policy and his latest book, “Profiles in Mental Health Courage.”

And in September, in partnership with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, we hosted a conversation, “Breaking the Silence: A Conversation on Suicide Awareness and Mental Health” in recognition of September being Suicide Prevention Month. Thank you to all who opened your hearts and shared your stories of healing and support.

Rise to Shine Run & Walk

In October, the IMD Commission and hundreds of other racers and partner organizations came together for the race that prioritizes accessibility for all — the third annual Chicago Lighthouse Rise to Shine Run & Walk 10K/5K/1M held in the IMD.

More than 80,000 people pass through the Illinois Medical District every day, and many of them have disabilities. For them, accessibility to the providers within the IMD is critical, which is why we are proud to have been a founding partner and sponsor of The Chicago Lighthouse’s Rise to Shine Run & Walk. Since 2022, this event has brought the IMD community and the City of Chicago together to support, celebrate and advocate for accessibility for all.

The IMD Commission is proud to partner with the Chicago Lighthouse on this one-of-a-kind event that affirms our shared commitment to breaking down barriers so people with disabilities can fully participate in education, employment, fitness, and social activities.

To view results and photos from the race, visit RiseToShineRace.com — see you again next year and thank you for being a Champion of Accessibility!

Economic Club of Chicago Member Exchange

In September, we were proud to host the Economic Club of Chicago for a Member Exchange event at the Old Cook County Hospital Building now Hyatt Place IMD.

Guests enjoyed IMD-inspired cocktails and got a behind-the-scenes look at the interior and exterior of this iconic and historic building, including the medical museum on the first floor (open to the public) and old surgical theater.

Partners: Advancing the IMD

MD Anderson and RUSH Unveil RUSH MD Anderson Cancer Center

In April, the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and RUSH University System for Health announced a partnership to create RUSH MD Anderson Cancer Center. The partnership represents advanced clinical and operational integration in the delivery of cancer care, providing RUSH patients greater access to cancer treatments and research considered among the best in the world.

MD Anderson is one of the nation’s leading cancer centers and its team of experts is devoted exclusively to cancer patient care, research, education and prevention. RUSH becomes the seventh partner in MD Anderson’s network of hospitals and health care systems collaborating to provide more people greater access to advanced cancer care and clinical trials. RUSH MD Anderson will serve patients in the largest U.S. city by population of all network partners.

RUSH MD Anderson patients will benefit from the combined expertise of a multidisciplinary team of surgical, medical and radiation oncologists, nurses and support specialists. Importantly, patients will receive care mirroring the same protocols and treatment plans available at MD Anderson and will have the opportunity to participate in an expanded number of clinical trials, including early Phase I and II trials.

On RUSH’s Chicago campus, cancer care will be provided in the 10-story Joan and Paul Rubschlager Building in the IMD, designed to optimize patient experience and convenience while creating an uplifting, accessible environment that promotes healing.

Cook County Health launches free doula program

In December, Cook County Health announced it was partnering with Prism Health Care to offer doulas to their 1,000 mostly Black and Latina pregnant patients.

Doulas can educate patients and their families on what to expect before birth. During labor, they can provide emotional and physical support to help cope with the stress and pain, offering reassurance and squeezing near a woman’s hips during a contraction, for example. After the baby arrives, doulas can help parents navigate everything from breastfeeding their babies to feeding themselves during what can be a stressful time those first few weeks and months at home.

Studies have shown that access to doulas can significantly improve maternal health issues, especially for Black and Latina women. The county health system will hire 10 doulas and provide the doula services to patients for free starting in January 2025. To read more, click here.

UIC College of Pharmacy gets new name following transformational gift

Grand opening of the new Herbert M. and Carol H. Retzky College of Pharmacy.

With the help of a major gift from the estate of a distinguished alum and his wife, the University of Illinois Chicago College of Pharmacy will quadruple its merit-based scholarships and double down on its commitment to equity and clinical excellence.

The newly named Herbert M. and Carol H. Retzky College of Pharmacy was unveiled Friday, September 13, following a dedication to mark the $36 million endowment gift from the estate of Herbert, ’46, and Carol Retzky, who was awarded an honorary degree in 2019. The donation cements the Retzkys’ legacy of advancing pharmacy education at UIC and drives innovative careers in the field while honoring the couple’s longstanding dedication to pharmacy and transformational support.

The new sign identifying the College of Pharmacy in the IMD.

UIC’s College of Pharmacy is the top-rated college of pharmacy in Illinois and is ranked 15th in the nation, according to U.S. News & World Report. The Herbert M. and Carol H. Retzky College of Pharmacy will be the first donor-named college at UIC and only the fourth in the University of Illinois System.

Urban beekeeping and fall honey harvest

The IMD Commission partnered UI Health and Alvéole to launch an urban beekeeping program in the IMD.

During the summer, our honeybee colony produced hyper-local honey, while the bee provided a nesting habitat for important solitary wild bees and insects. You can find regular updates from our beekeeper as they observe and report on nesting activity, colony growth, and other bee updates on our MyHive page.

And this November, we held a honey harvest workshop to where attendees got to try harvesting honey by hand. Keep an eye out for a jar of IMD honey at a meeting or event near you soon!

UIC Masters of City Design (MCD) Studios win award for IMD project

This summer, the IMD Commission, UIC Masters of City Design (MCD) cohort, and Masters of Urban Planning and Policy (MUPP) students collaborated on a project called, “Think Like A City: A Framework Plan for Remaking Places.”

That project was awarded the 2024 American Planning Association – Illinois (APA-IL) Chapter’s Student Project Award, marking the third consecutive year the Master of City Design program has been the recipient, and fifth for the College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs.

“Think Like A City” project from the MCD.

Their winning submission engages with contemporary issues of the built environment for the IMD – a unique sector of Chicago’s west side undergoing significant change. Students focused on co-designing an IMD that thrives in medical research, innovation and care, with a community informed, community-centered vision of a resilient and reparative neighborhood that prioritizes the public realm, strengthens livelihoods, and is inclusive to all.

Students host activities on place-affirming programming and healthy lifestyle preferences at one of two pop-up events in the IMD.

The proposal is the result of an intensive six-month process, spanning the Spring Great Cities Studio and the Summer Chicago Charrette Studio, with additional guidance provided by the UIC Institute of Policy and Civic Engagement (IPCE), professional practitioners from Design Workshop, community members, and various other design leaders across the globe.

Congratulations to the student for their achievement! To learn more, visit the project website.

Electronics recycling

We partnered with PCs for People for two electronics recycling events at our office in the month of April.

PCs for People is a nonprofit and national leader in IT Asset Disposition (ITAD) offering certified data destruction and recycling services that have benefited over 500,000 people, redistributed 267,000 refurbished devices, recycled over 9 million pounds of e-waste, and helped over 77,000 homes connect to the internet.

Recycled computers are refurbished and distributed back into the community to support equal access to technology for low-income families, their warehouses employee adults from diverse backgrounds and with disabilities, and if items are not reusable, they recycle every component.

Growing Solutions Farm hoop house now heated

Growing Solutions Farm Hoop House exterior.

Let there be heat! Growing Solutions Farm (GSF) from Urban Autism Solutions (UAS) is excited to announce that their hoop house now has heat.

This improvement was made possible through generous contributions from Mike Underdown, CEO and President at Crosstown Fiber, and Tim Hayes, the Operations Manager at Jules Madison. It’s no easy feat to trench lines for gas and electric utilities, particularly when the electrical lines must run the entire farm length – that’s up to 240 feet. But starting in October 2023 when GSF programming was winding down, Tim Hayes, Jim Raymond of Integrated Electric, and their crew spent the next few months laboring at this tremendous task.

Fresh produce growing in the hoop house.

And they took care of everything. They handled scheduling, permits, transportation of heavy materials, communication with utility communications, electrical work, along with all other requirements this job demanded. As the magnitude of this project took its toll on the property, another partner was brought in to take care of that as well. The team at Plum Valley Landscaping stepped in and generously contributed their services to ensure that the GSF land looked better than before.

Charitable giving from these champions was the catalyst for expansion of GSF programming and impact. Read more about the project here. To directly support GSF you can donate here or contact them at info@urbanautismsolutions.com.

CHICAT, RUSH, and Steelcase team up to improve patient experience

Translucent photographs on windows in the sunlit atrium at Rush’s patient rooms.

High school students at the Chicago Center for Arts and Technology (CHICAT) created a photography project in partnership with Rush University Medical Center and Steelcase.

Fifteen students toured Steelcase to learn about how environment affects health from Dr. Tracy Brower and learned about photography from CHICAT’s instructor, Stuart Grais. Then they set out through the summer to take photographs of flowers, ponds, trees, and landscapes captured all over Chicago. These thousands of photographs were then curated and forty were selected to be printed as 3′ x 5′ translucent photographs placed on windows in the sunlit atrium on the seventh floor of Rush hospital’s patient rooms. The natural light illuminates the photos in the patient rooms, provides the feeling of more privacy, and adds natural beauty to the space. The feedback from patients, visitors, and staff has been fantastic.

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