The IMD continues to develop its coordinated plan for medical facilities and services - including the redevelopment of the District Development Area. Guided by the Illinois Medical District Commission (IMDC), a seven-member panel appointed by State of Illinois, Cook County, and City of Chicago leadership, the IMD continues pursuing the mission and vision that were set long ago - your assurance for quality and long term commitment.

The District had its start in the 1870's when Cook County Hospital, Rush Medical College, and the College of Physicians and Surgeons were established on the Near West Side following the great Chicago Fire of 1871. The cornerstone for the Medical Center was the building of Cook County Hospital in 1876. In 1877, Rush Medical College erected a building next to County at Harrison and Wood. Presbyterian Hospital (affiliated with Rush) was built in 1883. The University of Illinois at Chicago's origins in the District can be traced to the College of Physicians and Surgeons, founded in 1881. In 1913, the College became the University's College of Medicine.

In 1917, the State acquired the vacated Chicago Cubs Park located at Polk and Wolcott for the University. In turn the University built two new medical college buildings and a hospital there in the 1920's with further building taking place on this block in the 1930's and 1940's. In 1924, the Cook County Juvenile Court was relocated to the area.

Also in 1917, the 971-bed County Hospital was completed and the Illinois Public Welfare Director, Charles Thorne, suggested that the area be given a special medical center identity. In 1925, preliminary plans and sketches for the center were prepared. Four years later the University of Illinois announced its intention to construct a medical school and a teaching hospital.

By 1934, a local Medical Square Commission was formed to clear the property north of Cook County Hospital for a convalescent park, the first major land use accomplishment by an official governing body. In 1940, the Honorable Vito Marzullo, a state representative from the Near West Side communicated his dream of establishing the finest Medical Center in the world to Governor Green and the legislature. To help Marzullo promote the idea, Park Livingston of the University of Illinois Board of Trustees, used his skills and good will to assist in the passing of the Medical District Act in 1941. The Medical Center Commission was formally established and purchased its first property that year.

In 1953, the Veterans Administration opened its new West Side Medical Center. In 1957, the Fantus Clinic was added to Cook County Hospital as an outpatient facility. The 1960's experienced the growth of Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center and the University of Illinois at Chicago Medical Campus, including a new University College of Pharmacy. During that period, the boundaries of the District were expanded to 14th/15th Street South of Roosevelt Road creating the "District Development Area" as an area of continued land acquisition and assemblage for future growth.

In the mid 1970's, Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center built a new Academic Facility, the Bowman Health Center for the Elderly, an addition to its three professional buildings and a parking deck. The University of Illinois built a College of Dentistry and a Health Sciences Library. The City of Chicago Department of Public Health opened a new office and laboratory building.

During the 1980's, there was significant growth in the District. Cook County built a new Institute of Forensic Medicine and Medical Examiners facility in 1980. In 1982, the Chicago Technology Park was created. In 1983, the University of Illinois opened a 500-bed replacement hospital. The UIC Eye Research Center, a student residence and other facilities were built in the mid 1980's. Rush completed a 254 bed Atrium hospital building. The Veterans Affairs built a new ambulatory care facility.

In 1994, the County completed a large addition to the Juvenile Justice Center and added a 2,000 space parking deck. In 1995, the District's name was changed from the Illinois Medical Center to the Illinois Medical District to recognize that the "District" now contained various individual "medical centers." In 1996, the State completed construction of a state-of-the-art State Police Forensic Science Center, the City opened its new Communications Center and UIC opened its Molecular Biology Research Building. In 1997, the Cook/Rush CORE Center, the UIC Outpatient Clinic and Cook County parking deck broke ground. In 1998, the Commission adopted a comprehensive current Master Plan for the district. Recognizing a need for additional supportive food service and retail facilities, the Ashland / Roosevelt Retail Center was constructed in the late 1990's.

The beginning of the 21st Century continued to witness the growth and expansion of the District and the fulfillment of its mission. The Rush-Barton Senior Assisted Living Project, the Chicago Child Advocacy Center, the Roosevelt / Wood Institutional Office Research Center, the Veteran's Administration parking deck and Veteran's Benefits Administration Building were completed. In addition the Cook County Hospital Replacement Facility, a major project, was opened up as the John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County.

Within the Chicago Technology Park (CTP), Enterprise Center II, a wet lab facility, was completed to house graduate companies from the CTP Research Center Incubator. Utility infrastructure improvements were commenced and the 2020 Ogden building, the former home of the Chicago Medical School, was demolished to make room for a future mixed use development project.

The Chicago Technology Park and related land assemblage in the District Development Area for eventual expansion site for incubated companies and technologies has become an important focus of the Commission on behalf of the District and its constituent members.

At the turn of the century, Business Week magazine declared that the 21st Century would be the "Biotech Century." Indeed, advances in molecular biology, genetic engineering, and university related research have provided elements for a new biotech economy. It is our goal to assist in the positioning of the State of Illinois as a leader in biotech commercialization, research and treatment.

To that end, the Chicago ITEC was established with the Commission as a strategic partner, along with DCEO, IIT and the University of Illinois, to utilize grant funding to further the mission of incubating and assisting emerging companies and emerging technologies, with abundant job creation and economic development. Planning was also initiated for design and development of a Technology Commercialization Center within the Chicago Technology Park.

We are indeed proud of the many successful life science and biotech businesses that started with a handful of researchers on a limited budget in our Chicago Technology Park. The past two years have demonstrated greater momentum and return on investment to the Illinois economy than have been seen before. Further dynamic synergy has been created between our major District Institutional Members which have provided international leadership in research and have been supportive of operations in the Technology Park. Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's has opened a new $50 million, privately funded biotech research building in the Illinois Medical District. The new University of Illinois Medical School will include significant research efforts. We are also forging partnerships with the Illinois Coalition, the Chicago Biotech Network, Northwestern University, The Mayor’s Technology Office, Illinois Ventures and newly-formed statewide organizations such as IBio.

It is our intention to continue to carefully work in partnership with the private sector, State of Illinois, Cook County, and City of Chicago for the continued growth of our biotech competitiveness in the 21st century economy.