Hoffman Estates OKs helipad relocation

St. Alexius Medical Center's plan for a six-story addition took another step forward Monday as the Hoffman Estates village board approved the relocation of the hospital's helipad during construction.

The hospital plans to finish the first phase of the six-story building, which includes a Women's and Children's Pavilion, by March 2013 on the east side of its campus at 1555 N. Barrington Road. The 209,600-square-foot addition will cost $117 million.

The helipad will move to the roof of the new addition once construction is completed. In the meantime, the village board granted the temporary relocation of the pad to the northeast corner of the hospital property, off Higgins Road.

Trustee Gary Pilafas voted against the move and said he had concerns about how far the helipad was from the hospital and the traffic concerns from motorists driving down Higgins Road.

Barry Koncel, associate principal of the Proteus Group, the Chicago-based architectural firm behind the renovations, said St. Alexius uses the helipad about twice a month. The FAA and IDOT already have approved the move, and the helipad will be moved by the end of the year.

Trustee Raymond Kincaid said he was worried about dust bothering motorists and pedestrians. He also was concerned about traffic delays from motorists driving slow down Higgins Road while watching helicopters land and take off.

Hospital officials said the current location of the helipad is about the same distance from an existing hospital parking lot and said they've never received complaints about dust.St. Alexius's modernization project will go through 2016. The new 96-bed patient tower includes a new pharmacy, MRI facilities and expanded pediatric facilities.