The Robert R. McCormick Foundation said Friday that  it will give $5 million toward the University of Chicago Medical Center’s new $700 million hospital pavilion, slated to open in 2013.

In awarding the grant, the foundation said it was given as part of the nonprofit’s commitment to “civic health.” The primary entrance to the new Hospital Pavilion will be named the McCormick Foundation Lobby in recognition of the  gift, the U. of C. Medical Center said.
“Over the years, we’ve continued Col. McCormick’s tradition of supporting institutions doing important and innovative work in this city,” said David Hiller, president and CEO of the foundation. “The new hospital project is pioneering and extraordinary in its design and use of technology. It will be recognized as one of the great research hospitals and medical centers in the world.”

The pavilion spans two blocks on East 57th Street, just north of the Comer Children’s Hospital and the Duchossois Center for Advanced Medicine in Hyde Park.

Once the pavilion opens, the main hospital building, known as Bernard Mitchell, will convert to private rooms. The new 10-story pavilion will feature 80 private patient rooms, including 20 intensive-care beds on each of the top three floors. The sixth floor will house 28 operating rooms.

The project is being financed through $100 million in cash and investments, $100 million in philanthropy and $500 million in tax-exempt debt, hospital officials have said.