Reprinted from ADA email, June 5, 2024:
Dear Fellow Leaders:
The American Dental Association has closed on the sale of its headquarters at 211 East Chicago Avenue to Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, our largest tenant in recent years. I’m pleased that the ADA will be passing the torch of 211’s storied history and health care legacy to Lurie Children’s who, like the ADA, is dedicated to the wellbeing of our communities.
The sale represents a convergence of opportunity for the two mission-driven organizations. Lurie Children’s, which was founded in 1882 and moved next door to the ADA in June 2012, aims to move its administrative offices out of the main hospital and expand its clinical capacity. Acquiring 211 East Chicago aligns with the hospital’s mission to provide accessible, high-quality health care to every child who needs it.
The ADA, as you know, is in a season of transformation. And while we’re financially strong and growing towards better serving our members and professional community, we are also embracing what it means to be a future-forward workplace. With most of our professional team working in a hybrid modality and our science and research operations moving to the ADA Forsyth Institute’s facilities in Massachusetts, we simply do not need as much space as we once did.
The ADA’s operations will remain at 211 East Chicago Avenue until our early-2025 relocation to 401 North Michigan Avenue. Work begins this summer on a from-scratch renovation to portions of the four floors we’re leasing on this property. We have engaged an architectural firm who will design a hybrid-work-friendly, tech-enhanced environment for our staff and volunteers.
The state-of-the-art offices, tailored to our needs, are an investment in the exceptional work you do to support fellow members and elevate our profession. Less than one mile south of 211, the new property boasts panoramic views of Lake Michigan, the Chicago River, and Michigan Avenue’s skyscape. In addition to convenient access to restaurants and retail, there are ample meeting and conference facilities for volunteers.
More than half a century after the ADA broke ground on what would become 211 East Chicago Avenue, our Association is primed for growth and fresh possibilities once again, and the ADA’s leadership believes our next big move is a step in the right direction for all of our members.
As we prepare for the next phase in the ADA’s journey, let’s look ahead to the opportunities that await us. The true heart of the ADA lies not in an address, but in all of us — and our belief that the best is yet to come.
We will provide updates as this journey continues. If you have any questions, share them with us at edgarl@ada.org or cohlmiar@ada.org.
Sincerely,
Linda J. Edgar, DDS, M.Ed.
President, ADA
Raymond A. Cohlmia, DDS
Executive Director, ADA
