 Over the years, the hospitals began collaborating on a number of clinical services and teaching programs, setting in motion plans for a long-contemplated merger.The process accelerated with the 1966 establishment of the McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University that focused on joint purchasing, shared facilities, graduate medical education and the development of group practices to further joint planning efforts towards a unified medical center.In 1994, construction began on a new 2 million square foot Northwestern Memorial facility on the block bordered by Fairbanks Court, St. Clair, Huron and Erie Streets.