There’s a certain kind of magic in walking past an old building and knowing it’s about to become something entirely new. That’s the case with 400 S. Jefferson St. in Chicago’s West Loop Gate, a neighborhood that lives at the intersection of grit, growth, and glassy new skylines. Once the domain of printing presses and, later, the headquarters of corporate giants such as Sara Lee, Hillshire Brands, and Tyson Foods, 400 S. Jefferson is preparing for its most meaningful reinvention yet.
Come spring 2026, it will become the newest campus of The Chicago School and the home of the Illinois College of Osteopathic Medicine (IllinoisCOM), the city’s first new medical school in nearly 100 years.
The Chicago School: A Legacy of Serving Community Health
For more than 45 years, The Chicago School has been training professionals in mental health, education, and public service, fields essential to building resilient, thriving communities. With campuses in Chicago; Dallas; Washington, D.C.; and Southern California and with robust online programs, the institution’s alumni are driving change both locally and globally.
Rooted in the belief that there is no health without mental health, The Chicago School is now bringing that philosophy into medical education. IllinoisCOM represents a bold but natural next step, a way to unite the mind and body in how we train future physicians and in how we meet the health needs of communities across Illinois and beyond.
A Building With a Story to Tell
The new campus at 400 S. Jefferson is more than a convenient location. It’s a symbol of transformation and resilience. Originally built in 1946 by renowned architect Alfred S. Alschuler II in the Art Moderne style, the six-story, 247,000-square-foot building was first home to the Newman-Rudolph Lithographing Company before transforming into a U.S. Army induction center during the Vietnam War era, when it prepared service members for deployment during pivotal decades in American history.
Later, the building evolved again, housing the global operations of Sara Lee Corporation, followed by Hillshire Brands, and eventually serving as the Tyson Foods headquarters.
In 2013, the building received a significant facelift complete with a glass curtain-wall façade, modern mechanical upgrades, and an indoor parking garage. These updates blended historic structure with contemporary form, setting the stage for what is now its most ambitious use to date: a world-class center for medical education.
Designed for a New Era in Healthcare
In 2024, The Chicago School and The Community Solution Education System, an integrated, private nonprofit higher education system that includes The Chicago School, acquired the property for $38.5 million and immediately set to work.
When complete, the eight-story facility will include:
- Cutting-edge classrooms, labs, and simulation spaces
- A rooftop event deck, student lounges, and collaboration zones
- Spaces designed for collaboration and connection
Nearly $41 million of the $47.6 million renovation budget has been awarded to Chicagoland-based firm Skender Construction and national firm RDG Planning & Design, with $7.7 million in contracts going to diverse vendors.
Training Tomorrow’s Physicians, Today
IllinoisCOM is designed to address a growing crisis: Illinois is projected to face a shortage of more than 6,000 physicians by 2030. But the response isn’t just about quantity; it’s about quality, equity, and empathy.
IllinoisCOM will fuse osteopathic principles with The Chicago School’s foundational strengths in behavioral health, training doctors to treat the whole person, not just the symptoms. From day one, students will engage with underserved populations, community health clinics, and service providers, learning not just how to provide care, but how to build trust.
This fusion of mental and physical health training aligns seamlessly with The Chicago School’s longstanding dedication to compassion, inclusion, and deep engagement with community well-being.
A Catalyst for Economic and Civic Growth
This campus isn’t just an academic investment but also a civic one. Once operational, it’s expected to:
- Contribute $83.4 million annually to Chicago’s economy
- Support 464 jobs
- Generate $4.8 million per year in tax revenue
- Deliver a $1 billion total economic impact over 10 years
And it’s not just economic capital. It’s also social capital. IllinoisCOM reinforces The Chicago School’s promise to prepare professionals who serve where they’re needed most, particularly in communities historically overlooked by traditional healthcare systems.
Looking Ahead: A University Evolving With Purpose
IllinoisCOM is not a departure from The Chicago School’s mission but an expansion of it. A natural continuation of a vision that’s always been about building stronger, more equitable communities through education, leadership, and care.
As the doors open at 400 S. Jefferson, they’ll welcome a new generation of change-makers: students, faculty, staff, and community partners who see healthcare as a calling. They’ll find in this building not just walls and whiteboards but also a purpose designed to heal from every angle.