Quick answer: An urgent care build-out in Chicago usually costs about $175 to $350 per square foot for construction, before medical equipment. A typical 3,000 to 5,000 square foot clinic with 6 to 10 exam rooms, a lab and an X-ray room often lands between $550,000 and $1.75 million in construction cost. The biggest drivers are plumbing for sinks in every exam room, X-ray room shielding, HVAC and electrical upgrades, accessibility and any piped medical gas. Plan on 3 to 5 months for design and permits and 3 to 5 months of construction. AMG Proline gives a fixed written price after a free site visit. Call (708) 979-3298 or request a free estimate!
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Urgent care centers sit between a doctor’s office and an emergency room, and their buildings have to work the same way. Patients walk in without appointments, providers move quickly between rooms, and the space has to handle infection control, imaging, lab work and accessibility, all in a typical retail or office unit. A build-out that is planned well lets a clinic see more patients per hour with less staff walking. A build-out that is not planned well costs money every day the clinic is open. This guide covers layout, exam rooms, plumbing, imaging, medical gas, permits and budget.
This guide goes with our commercial remodeling in Chicago service. For other healthcare spaces, see our dental office build-out guide and med spa build-out guide.
Opening an urgent care clinic? We review the space, utilities and code issues before we price anything. Call (708) 979-3298!
Urgent Care Build-Out Cost in Chicago
These are planning ranges for construction only. Medical equipment, IT, furniture and imaging machines are usually budgeted separately.
| Starting condition | What it means | Planning range per sq ft |
|---|---|---|
| Second-generation medical space | Existing clinic with exam rooms and plumbing that can be reused | $100 to $175 |
| White box | Bare walls, basic HVAC and electrical, no interior rooms | $175 to $275 |
| Shell space or former restaurant or retail | Major plumbing, HVAC and electrical work, possible slab trenching | $250 to $350+ |
Not sure what your lease delivers? Read White Box vs. Turnkey Build-Out in Chicago before you sign.
Where the money goes
| Line item | What drives the cost |
|---|---|
| Architecture and engineering | Medical layout, MEP engineering, permit drawings |
| Demolition | Removing the previous tenant’s build-out |
| Plumbing | Sinks in exam rooms, lab, restrooms, clean and soiled utility rooms, slab trenching |
| HVAC | Zoning, ventilation and exhaust for exam, procedure and isolation rooms |
| Electrical | Dedicated circuits for X-ray and lab equipment, lighting, data, emergency lighting |
| X-ray room shielding | Lead-lined walls and doors to the shielding plan |
| Medical gas | Piped oxygen, vacuum or medical air, if the clinic chooses it |
| Walls, doors and ceilings | Exam rooms, sound insulation, wide doors |
| Finishes | Cleanable flooring, wall protection, casework, solid surface counters |
| Accessibility | Accessible entrance, restrooms, exam room and routes |
| Fire and life safety | Fire alarm, sprinkler changes, exit signs |
Layout: How an Urgent Care Should Flow
The best clinics are organized around a simple loop: check-in, triage, exam room, testing, discharge. Every extra step a provider walks adds up over hundreds of visits each week.
| Space | Typical size | Planning notes |
|---|---|---|
| Waiting room and check-in | 300 to 600 sq ft | Visible from the front desk, separate seating area for sick patients if possible |
| Triage or vitals station | 60 to 100 sq ft | Close to the waiting room, with a scale and a sink |
| Exam rooms | 100 to 140 sq ft each | Sink, exam table, provider workspace, room for a family member |
| Procedure room | 150 to 200 sq ft | Larger room for laceration repair, splinting and minor procedures |
| Provider work area | 150 to 300 sq ft | Central location with sight lines to the exam room doors |
| Lab | 100 to 200 sq ft | Sink, counter space, refrigerator, dedicated circuits |
| X-ray room and control area | 200 to 300 sq ft | Shielded walls and door, sized to the equipment |
| Clean and soiled utility rooms | 60 to 120 sq ft each | Separate rooms for clean supplies and soiled items |
| Restrooms | Accessible size | At least one patient restroom near the lab for specimen collection |
Many clinics also add an isolation room for patients with contagious symptoms, located near the entrance so they do not walk through the clinic.
Exam Rooms
- Handwashing sink in every room. This is the biggest plumbing cost, and in a slab-on-grade space it often means cutting trenches for drains.
- Standardized layout. Same layout in every room so providers always know where supplies are.
- Door swing and privacy. Doors and curtains placed so the exam table is not visible from the hallway.
- Sound control. Insulated walls built up to the deck above protect patient privacy.
- Cleanable finishes. Sheet vinyl or similar seamless flooring, washable wall paint and wall protection where carts hit.
- Power and data. Outlets for exam lights, computers and diagnostic equipment.
- Accessible exam room. At least one room sized for wheelchair access and transfer.
Plumbing
Plumbing is often the biggest surprise in medical build-outs. Each exam room sink, the lab, the triage area, restrooms and utility rooms all need water and drains.
- Slab trenching. In ground-floor retail spaces, new drains usually require cutting and replacing the concrete slab.
- Existing stack locations. Clustering wet rooms near existing plumbing lowers cost.
- Hot water capacity for frequent handwashing.
- Specialty fixtures in the soiled utility room and lab, as the design requires.
X-Ray Room and Imaging Shielding
Most urgent cares include an X-ray room. It has requirements no other room in the clinic has.
- Shielding plan. A qualified medical physicist prepares a shielding plan based on the equipment, room layout and what is on the other side of each wall.
- Lead-lined construction. Walls, doors and sometimes floors or ceilings are built with lead-lined drywall or lead sheet to the thickness the plan requires.
- Control area. The technologist stands behind a shielded wall or screen with a viewing window.
- Electrical. X-ray equipment usually needs dedicated, higher-voltage circuits.
- Registration and testing. In Illinois, X-ray machines are registered with the state, and the installed room is typically surveyed after installation to confirm the shielding works.
Our dental office guide explains shielding in more depth. See Dental Office Build-Out Cost in Chicago.
Medical Gas
Many urgent care clinics use portable oxygen cylinders and portable suction rather than piped systems. Some larger clinics and those offering more advanced procedures choose piped oxygen, vacuum or medical air.
| Option | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Portable oxygen and suction | Lower cost, flexible, no special piping | Cylinders must be stored and changed |
| Piped medical gas | Outlets in rooms, no cylinder handling at the bedside | Higher cost, specialized installation and testing |
Piped medical gas systems must be installed by certified medical gas installers, follow the national medical gas standards adopted by code, and be tested and verified by an independent verifier before use. We coordinate this work as part of the build-out when the clinic’s design calls for it.
Not sure what your clinic needs? We work with your architect, equipment vendors and physicist to plan every room.
HVAC and Electrical
- Zoning. Exam rooms, waiting areas and the X-ray room often need separate temperature control.
- Ventilation and exhaust. Medical spaces need more fresh air and exhaust than a typical office, especially in soiled utility rooms, restrooms and any isolation room.
- Isolation room pressure. If you add an isolation room, the HVAC design can keep it at negative pressure so air does not spread into the clinic.
- Electrical service. X-ray, lab equipment, HVAC and lighting may require a service upgrade.
- Chicago conduit rules. Wiring in Chicago runs in conduit, which adds labor to every circuit.
- Emergency lighting and exit signs on battery backup.
Permits and Code
- City of Chicago permit. An urgent care build-out needs a full permit with architect and engineer drawings, reviewed by the Department of Buildings.
- Zoning and use. Confirm the space is zoned for a medical clinic before you sign the lease.
- Accessibility. The clinic must meet federal ADA standards and the Illinois Accessibility Code for entrances, routes, restrooms and exam rooms.
- Fire and life safety. Fire alarm and sprinkler changes are reviewed and inspected.
- Healthcare design guidelines. Many architects use national outpatient design guidelines for room sizes, sinks and infection control.
- Landlord approval. Most leases require landlord review of plans and contractor insurance.
For suburban locations, see our South Suburb Permit Timelines and our Chicago permit guide.
Timeline
| Stage | Typical time |
|---|---|
| Site selection and test fit | 2 to 4 weeks |
| Design and engineering | 6 to 10 weeks |
| Permit review | 6 to 12 weeks or more |
| Construction | 12 to 20 weeks |
| Equipment installation, X-ray survey and inspections | 2 to 4 weeks |
Long-lead items such as X-ray equipment, HVAC units and electrical gear should be ordered early, often during permit review, so they do not hold up opening day.
Ways to Control the Budget
- Choose second-generation medical space when you can, and reuse plumbing and exam rooms.
- Cluster wet rooms near existing plumbing.
- Standardize exam rooms so casework and fixtures repeat.
- Negotiate tenant improvement allowances and landlord work before signing.
- Use portable oxygen and suction unless your services require piped gas.
- Get a fixed price. Read Why We Quote Fixed Written Prices.
Our Commercial Work
We build out offices, retail, restaurants, salons, spas and healthcare spaces across Chicago and the suburbs. See our office remodeling, spa construction and our guides to office tenant build-outs and retail store build-outs.
About AMG Proline
AMG Proline has been building and remodeling in Chicago and the suburbs since 2000. We’re licensed and bonded in Illinois (License #104.020448) and BBB A+ rated. Our own crews handle demolition, framing, drywall, flooring and finish work, and we coordinate licensed specialty trades for plumbing, electrical, HVAC and medical systems. Learn more about us, see our projects, or read our Google reviews.
Urgent Care Build-Out FAQs
How much does an urgent care build-out cost in Chicago?
Construction usually runs about $175 to $350 per square foot, before equipment. A 3,000 to 5,000 square foot clinic often lands between $550,000 and $1.75 million in construction cost.
How big should an urgent care clinic be?
Many urgent care clinics are about 3,000 to 5,000 square feet, with 6 to 10 exam rooms, a procedure room, a lab and an X-ray room.
Does every exam room need a sink?
Handwashing sinks in exam rooms are standard practice for infection control, and they are one of the biggest plumbing costs in the build-out.
What does an X-ray room need?
A shielding plan from a qualified medical physicist, lead-lined walls and doors to that plan, dedicated electrical circuits, state registration of the machine and testing after installation.
Does an urgent care need piped medical gas?
Not always. Many clinics use portable oxygen and suction. Piped systems cost more and must be installed and verified by certified specialists.
How long does an urgent care build-out take?
Design and permits often take 3 to 5 months, and construction about 3 to 5 months, plus time for equipment installation and inspections.
Is a former retail space a good location for urgent care?
Often yes, for visibility and parking. Plumbing is the main challenge, because new drains usually require cutting the slab.
What is a second-generation medical space?
A space that was previously a medical clinic, with exam rooms and plumbing that can often be reused, lowering cost and time.
Do I need permits for an urgent care build-out?
Yes. A full building permit with architect and engineer drawings is required, plus fire and life safety review and inspections.
What accessibility rules apply?
The clinic must meet ADA standards and the Illinois Accessibility Code, including entrances, routes, restrooms and at least one accessible exam room.
Should I add an isolation room?
Many clinics do, near the entrance, so patients with contagious symptoms do not walk through the clinic. It can be designed with negative air pressure.
How do I get a price?
Call (708) 979-3298 or request a free estimate online. We visit the space, review your plans and give you a fixed written price.
Get Your Free Urgent Care Build-Out Estimate
Call (708) 979-3298 · 4711 W 135th St, Crestwood, IL 60418 · Monday to Saturday, 8 AM to 7 PM
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