Rush University Medical Center
Atrium Hospital Renovations
Salas O’Brien delivered engineering and low voltage technology design during major upgrades to Rush University Medical Center’s Atrium building.
Our client
Rush University Medical Center (RUMC) is a key member of the larger Illinois-based Rush Health System, which includes hospitals, clinics, and a medical university. Today’s massive Rush network all began with Rush Medical College, which received its charter two days before the incorporation of Chicago. Today, RUMC and its connected medical university are pillars of the Chicago area.
Project highlights
Their challenge
RUMC needed to update and modernize Atrium building—a major project, as the building is an integral part of the center. This 1970s-era building needed to be renovated in phases to accommodate normal hospital operations and to make sure this older building could be adequately upgraded to the level of excellence at the campus’s newest state-of-the-art East Tower.
Our solution
Our team designed new mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection systems as well as low-voltage systems to support a variety of Atrium projects, including antepartum, postpartum, and nursery renovations, the air handling unit replacement, pedestrian bridge upgrades, and the surgical floor renovation.
The results
Our team partnered with RUMC’s engineers to utilize as much existing infrastructure as possible to support the renovations and worked closely with other team members to ensure hospital operations were not hindered by the renovation process.


