Cleveland Clinic Plans 1 Million-Square-Foot Neurological Institute
Scott Suttell, Crain's
The Cleveland Clinic on Friday, May 13, announced it will build a 1 million-square-foot neurological building on its main campus in Cleveland — a project that will include the demolition of the old Cleveland Play House building — as part of plans to spend $1.3 billion in capital projects in Ohio, Florida and London.
In addition to what the Clinic is calling the Neurological Institute, it will expand the Cole Eye Institute building on main campus and "significantly expand research facilities through its commitment to the Cleveland Innovation District," the Clinic said in a news release. A Clinic spokeswoman wrote in an email that Clinic officials would not be available until next week to discuss the projects in more detail.
Clinic president and CEO Dr. Tom Mihaljevic, who in his State of the Clinic address earlier this year announced broad outlines of the capital spending plan, said in a statement that the projects detailed Friday "reflect the needs of our organization and will ensure cutting-edge care for the next generation of patients. By building, partnering and innovating with technology, we are preparing current and future caregivers to deliver the best care."
The Neurological Institute will be built between East 86th and East 90th streets. Its construction requires the demolition of the "P" building (the surgery center at the corner of East 90th Street and Carnegie Avenue) and the attached "PP" parking garage, as well as the "PL" building (formerly the home of The Cleveland Play House), the Clinic said in the release.
In the release, the Clinic said that when the former Play House building is removed, "this area will initially be used to support the building of the new neurological building where all equipment and vehicles will be contained on Cleveland Clinic property during construction. This will ensure that local residents have uninterrupted access to parking in their neighborhood during this time." Potential long-term plans for that land "include a new mixed-use neighborhood development project," the Clinic said.
The Neurological Institute will include inpatient and outpatient care. The Clinic said neurological services at present are based across several locations on main campus, and the new building "will bring those caregivers and services together under one roof." The Clinic said it received a $10 million donation from the Charles L. Shor Foundation to support design and planning of the building.
Work on the Neurological Institute will begin this year, "with the first patient expected to be seen in 2026," the Clinic said in the release.
On Euclid Avenue between East 100th and East 105th streets, expansion of the Cole Eye Institute building will add 150,000 square feet of new space. The project will add operating rooms and procedure rooms, and it will renovate existing space.
Jeffrey A. Cole and his wife, Patricia O'Brien Cole, committed $31 million for the project, as well as to enhance research and education. The expansion will be named the Jeffrey and Patricia Cole Building. Additionally, a $10 million grant from the Timken Foundation of Canton helped support the Cole Eye expansion planning phase and established The Louise Timken Ophthalmic Education Center.
The Clinic said a groundbreaking on that project will be held May 20. Completion of the Cole Eye expansion is expected at the end of 2025.
Included in the capital investment is the Clinic's $300 million investment in the Cleveland Innovation District, which it describes as "the largest research effort in Cleveland Clinic's history." The state of Ohio and JobsOhio are committing $200 million to that effort. Plans include adding 400,000 square feet of research space "to accelerate discovery and position Northeast Ohio at the forefront of pathogen research and preparing for the next pandemic," the Clinic said.