Lurie Children’s and Stone CDC Partner to Create a New Community Hub

Lurie Children’s Hospital is partnering with Stone Community Development Corporation (Stone CDC) to co-develop the Austin HOPE Center—a nearly 25,000-square-foot facility in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood opening in Fall 2026. The Austin HOPE Center will provide both clinical care and community-based services designed to promote child and family well-being.

Stone CDC, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing health, education, and economic growth in Austin, will own the new facility. Lurie Children’s Hospital and Thresholds will lease space to offer health care, mental health services, and educational programs that reflect the priorities of Austin residents. This collaborative approach, which puts shared knowledge and community input at the center of the design, is what drives the project.

Linds Arenberg, Director of Community Health, Education and Advocacy at Lurie’s Patrick M. Magoon Institute for Healthy Communities, recently visited Machu Picchu—the 15th-century Incan ruins in Peru. The experience reminded her not only of the immense physical labor behind those structures, but also of the deep, generational knowledge that made them possible. The Incas built earthquake-resistant architecture, cultivated disease-resistant crops, and relied on the collective wisdom of their community.

That same reliance on shared wisdom and generational knowledge is the driving philosophy behind the Austin HOPE Center. Developing this nearly 25,000-square-foot facility is about far more than bricks and mortar—it’s about collective knowledge and collaboration. Aisha Oliver, who has worked as a Magoon Institute Community Engagement Specialist and is a lifelong Austin resident, is drawing on her decades of experience to bring community voices into every stage of planning. She’s bringing together clinicians, Austin residents, and local organizations to design services that truly reflect the community’s needs and aspirations.

Stone CDC’s leadership, which includes longtime Austin residents, ensures that local perspectives shape every decision. Architect Gregory R. Williams, designer Taylor Staten, and Ujamaa Construction have all incorporated community feedback to create a welcoming and functional space.

When complete, the Austin HOPE Center will house clinical services such as adolescent medicine and specialty care for children with asthma, autism, sickle cell disease, and kidney disorders, among other conditions. These services were selected through extensive community engagement and patient data analysis to best meet local health needs. Beyond clinical care, the center will feature outdoor green space, areas for community gatherings, a teen lounge, and a café. Lurie Children’s will also offer training and education programs to support youth and families.

The vision behind the Austin HOPE Center is grounded in shared wisdom, lived experience, and collaboration—a true reflection of Lurie Children’s Hospital’s motto: All for your one.

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