The eight-story, 192-private-room patient tower at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital and Advocate Lutheran General Children's Hospital opened July 18 when 86 patients were transported from various hospital areas to the pediatrics/pediatric intensive care, medical/cardiac intensive care, general surgery, oncology, neurology/stroke care and obstetric care units in the new building.

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Participating in the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the patient tower are, from left, Carl Voelcker, vice president, development, Lutheran General; Ronald Mallicoat, chairman, Governing Council of Advocate Lutheran General Hospital and Advocate Lutheran General Children's Hospital; Al Manshum, vice president, facilities and construction for Advocate Health Care; John Sage, M.D., medical staff president, Lutheran General; Dennis Ayers, vice president, ambulatory and facility management, Lutheran General; the Rev. Kathie Bender Schwich, vice president, mission and spiritual care, Lutheran General; and David Stark, president of Advocate Lutheran General Hospital and Advocate Lutheran General Children's Hospital. 

The 382,623-square-foot tower has among the largest patient rooms in the state, unique safety features and an environmentally sensitive design, which is on target to being the first in the Midwest to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.