Planned Parenthood's big plans

With an opening nearing, Planned Parenthood officials are putting the final touches on their newest facility on Aurora's east side.

The 22,000-square-foot, $7.5 million center at Oakhurst Drive and New York Street is thought to be the nation's largest Planned Parenthood, leaders say.

It'll offer birth control, pregnancy and pap tests, counseling, sexually transmitted disease testing and treatment and abortion services, among others.

Officials said Monday they're still on track to open Sept. 18. In their first year, they expect to handle 8,000 patients and 10,500 visits. Of those visits, about 2,400 will be for abortions, they say.

In the next five years, they could see 30,000 visits. And in the next five years, they say, their center will be an integral part of the local health-care arena, meeting a severe need for reproductive services.

As for now, work inside of the building is almost done. The facility smells new, with fresh paint and new carpeting. Glass windows that need installing lay against a wall. Gray shelves that'll soon hold patient files are empty. Buckets of soapy water are scattered across the hallway.

In recent days, hundreds of boxes of supplies have arrived.

Officials say they used the best design elements from Planned Parenthood centers across the nation for their center. It's efficient layout allows for both openness and privacy, they said.

The latter's a top concern. The entrance is off private property so guests won't face protesters, they said.

To the left of the main hallway is a community room with seating for 40. The family planning side has five exam rooms.

To the right of the hallway is the surgical side, for abortions. There's a large wait area, counseling rooms and four surgical rooms. The recovery section has individual areas big enough to accompany family and friends, a unique feature, officials said.

In the call center area, five operators will handle more than 15,000 calls a month. The area, with room for 17 operators, ultimately will serve the entire Planned Parenthood/Chicago Area.

While most of their centers are between 2,000 and 4,000 square feet, no expenses were spared for this building, said Steve Trombley, CEO and President of Planned Parenthood/Chicago Area.

"It's our way of honoring and respecting their decision to be here," he said.

Officials have been met with welcomes from various groups, including some religious ones. They also have been met with controversy -- which they expected.

Chicago's Pro-Life Action League is holding a 40-day on-site prayer vigil. Several hundred supporters also attended a strategy meeting to prevent an opening.

That won't happen, Trombley said. Officials last week received a temporary occupancy permit; a permanent one should come when they open. "We'll get past all this (controversy)," he said. "There's no doubt this will go away."

A medical center isn't the right place for protests on either side, he emphasizes -- save it for the courts.

The center will be open Tuesday through Saturday. Leaders eventually plan to be open all seven days. Officials will close their Naperville Express center on Oct. 17.