Ventas Purchases 72 MOBs for $760 Million

In an all-cash transaction, Ventas, Inc. has acquired Cogdell Spencer Inc., and its 72 medical office buildings. With coast-to-coast presence and over 20 million SF owned or managed, this acquisition will make Ventas the leading medical office building business in the United States.

For more details: http://www.rejournals.com/2011/12/27/ventas-buys-72-mobs-for-760-million/

Alexian Brothers Names First Layperson CEO

Longtime executive, Mark Frey, 56 named as new CEO of Alexian Brothers Health System as they prepare to merge with Ascension Health.

Frey has been with Alexian Brothers for more than 25 years, holding positions such as CEO of Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital. Frey will be the first layperson appointed as president and CEO in the health system's history.

Check out the full story here:
http://dhbusinessledger.com/main.asp?SectionID=4&SubSectionID=29&ArticleID=3893

Health Care Development- A Bright Side For Construction Industry

With Chicago-area construction industry having its sixth consecutive year of falling sales, health care development is a bright side for the industry. This is largely due to the health care sector not being directly tied to the strength of the economy.

Leopardo Cos., a Hoffman Estates based company is building a 95,000 SF project in the western suburb Lisle, this new building will house a state of the art cancer center for Rush University Medical Center and Dupage Medical Group, an 88 room modernization project for Provena Mercy Medical Center in Aurora and an 18,000 SF renovation of Loyola University Medical Center's Bone Marrow Transplant unit in Mayood.

Check out the full story here:

http://www.chicagorealestatedaily.com/article/20111205/CRED02/111209903/building-blocked-construction-still-down-in-chicago-area