Campinelli says portions of the 50 acres now under development were formerly occupied by a car dealership and residential homes. "It's in the same community that the hospital currently serves, and that was something that was strategic there," Campinelli says. "There isn't exactly 50 acres of land available anywhere in Elmhurst, so it was strategically purchased as it became available."

The new building will attach to an adjacent, existing 180,500-sf building, the Elmhurst Memorial Center for Health, which was built in 1999, Campinelli says. The existing building houses physician office and outpatient services.

Hammes also expects to develop an additional 90,000 to 180,000 sf in another two buildings on the campus to be used for physician offices, according to Campinelli. One of the buildings will focus on cardiac care and the other on women's services and cancer care. The amount of space constructed will be based on physician interest expressed in the buildings, Campinelli says.

The two ancillary buildings are still in the development stage and in need of state approval, however construction is expected to begin in summer 2009, with delivery in summer 2011, at the same time as the larger building, Campinelli says. He says asking lease rates for the space have yet to be determined.