New Cavs training center covered by PLA: Cleveland Clinic wellness center also in riverfront facility

The Cleveland Cavaliers broke ground on their new downtown riverfront headquarters and practice facility on Oct. 14. The site will also be used by the Cleveland Clinic as an athletic wellness center.

The facility will be more than 210,000 square feet, which will make it one of the country’s largest training facilities.

Dave Wondolowski, Executive Secretary/Business Manager of the Cleveland Building and Construction Trades Council, said the project will create between 300 to 400 jobs for affiliated members from area building trades who will work under a Project Labor Agreement.

The project is another example of both the Cavs and Cleveland Clinic understanding and valuing the work performed by CBCTC-affiliated members.

“We enjoy a strong relationship with these organizations,” Wondolowski said.

The Cleveland Clinic Global Peak Performance Center will be the first vertical development of Bedrock Real Estate's $3.5 billion Cuyahoga Riverfront Master Plan.

Wondolowski called the project important, as it kicks off a master plan to redevelop 35 acres of property along with Cuyahoga River, with a focus on accessibility and sustainability.

Work on the $280 million project is set to begin this month.

“Today’s groundbreaking of the Cleveland Clinic Global Peak Performance Center is one of the first steps in transforming and revitalizing the Cuyahoga riverfront,” said Dan Gilbert, Cleveland Cavaliers Chairman and Bedrock Real Estate Founder and Chairman. “Combining our practice facility with the sports medicine experts from the Cleveland Clinic means that not only will our players have access to the best possible care, but so will the residents of Cleveland and the surrounding areas – creating a multiplier effect that will benefit both the city and the Cavaliers.”

Gilbert added that the project will create a lasting community asset that invites elite and everyday athletes from around the world to Cleveland. It will also position the city as a global sports science and wellness destination. The center will bring together a unique hub of resources to help extend the lifespan of players' careers and help athletes attain their highest potential.

“We have established a championship-level culture in Cleveland, and this is another example of the commitment and overall investment we have made towards the long-term health and well-being of our players and the organization,” said Koby Altman, Cleveland Cavaliers President of Basketball Operations.

According to the Cleveland Clinic website, the center will offer comprehensive care for the general public, including athletes from all sports and levels. This will include access to testing and high-tech training equipment and devices, along with expert professionals from a variety of specialties, including orthopedic surgery, sports medicine, cardiology, pulmonology, exercise physiology, neurology, nutrition, psychology and genetics.

Using data repositories acquired through key partnerships and The Cleveland Clinic's global footprint, the center will leverage cutting-edge artificial intelligence technology to gain novel insights about human performance to maximize every athlete's potential and give them a physical and mental competitive edge. The performance center will also translate these unique insights to populations beyond athletes, including medical and healthcare patients, first responders and the military, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

“Together, we are building a facility that will redefine the standards of performance and wellness,” said Cleveland Clinic CEO and President Tom Mihaljevic, MD, and Morton L. Mandel CEO Chair. “This center will serve not only elite athletes but also individuals from all walks of life, reflecting our shared commitment to health, innovation and community development. Our partnership strengthens Cleveland’s position as a leader in both healthcare and sports excellence."

The facility was designed by the architectural firm Populous Studio in collaboration with the Cavaliers and Bedrock. Populous has designed hundreds of arenas and stadiums throughout the world. In the early 1990s, Populous was a division of Hellmuth, Obata and Kassabaum (HOK Sport) who designed what was then called Jacobs Field. They also designed the Browns training facility in Berea.

The design was inspired by three principles: Embrace the river, create a local icon and elevate the athlete’s experience.

The firm said the center design takes inspiration from the colors and curvature of the Cuyahoga River and the surrounding valley, creating core-to-shore connectivity that adds a new dimension to the coastline. It will include a public kayak launch point that will give the public the opportunity to enjoy the waterfront in this area for the first time in nearly a century.

As with all the sports facilities in Cleveland, Wondolowski expects this will be a popular project among affiliated members.

“Our members like to be on these types of projects,” he said.