The Cleveland Clinic announced major construction projects in May set to take place on its main campus, with all work covered by Project Labor Agreements [PLA].

In his State of the Clinic address, Cleveland Clinic CEO and President Tom Mihaljevic, M.D., announced the Cleveland Clinic is investing in multiple capital projects, including the construction of new buildings and the renovation of several facilities in Ohio.

“Our services have never been in greater demand,” Mihaljevic said. “These projects 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.”

On its main campus, affiliated members of the Cleveland Building Trades will construct a 1 million-square-foot Neurological Institute building, expand the Cole Eye Institute building and significantly expand research facilities through its commitment to the Cleveland Innovation District.

Cleveland Building and Construction Trades Council Executive Secretary Dave Wondolowski said these projects will create more than 2,500 construction jobs for affiliated tradesmen and tradeswomen under the PLA.

The Cleveland Clinic continues to use PLAs because they recognize that union building trades members are the most highly trained and highly skilled construction workforce in the Greater Cleveland area, Wondolowski said.

The Neurological Institute building will include inpatient and outpatient care, along with imaging and surgical services and research laboratories to investigate the function of the human brain and innovation labs to develop the neurological treatments of tomorrow.

Currently, neurological services are located at several locations on main campus. This new facility will be located on main campus between East 86th and East 90th streets. It will bring those caregivers and services together under one roof, and will enable collaboration between medical professionals and scientists to better serve patients, foster discovery and cures and attract the next generation of caregivers.

The building will be called The Charles Shor Epilepsy Center and work on the project will begin this year, with the first patient expected to be seen in 2026. Work on this project will include the demolition of the “P” building (the surgery center at the corner of E. 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). All operations in the P and PL buildings are being transitioned to other locations on main campus.

The other major project on campus involves the Cole Eye Center.

Construction crews will build the new 150,000-square-foot Jeffrey and Patricia Cole Building and renovate the existing 130,000-square-foot Cole Eye Institute building, originally constructed in 1999. The two buildings will be connected to create an integrated eye center designed to deliver an outstanding patient experience, as well as leading edge eye care, research and education.

Plans for the $177 million renovation and four-story new structure, located on Euclid Avenue between E. 100th and E. 105th streets, are centered on a team-based operating model to improve access for patients, increase capabilities and enhance patient experience. The new facility will feature an ophthalmic surgical center that will include 12 operating rooms, three refractive surgery procedure rooms and 50 eye exam rooms.

Renovation plans also include the expansion of the Louise Timken Ophthalmic Education Center, which will facilitate growth of eye research, an expanded education and training simulation center and centralization of multiple ophthalmology research labs. The space will also feature a new Center of Excellence in Ophthalmic Imaging.

The project was designed by Bostwick Design Partnership and HGA. Whiting-Turner Construction is the general contractor. A groundbreaking ceremony was held on
May 20 and work is expected to wrap up at the end of 2025.

“This project is rooted in our vision to make Cleveland Clinic the best place for care anywhere,” Mihaljevic said during the groundbreaking ceremony. “Through expanded facilities, we can improve access and touch more lives, which we see as our ethical imperative. The world looks to us for innovative solutions and projects like this that position Cleveland Clinic to thrive in today’s complex healthcare environment.”

Besides the work on main campus, Mihaljevic also spoke briefly about other capital projects of note.

In Lake County, construction of the new Mentor Hospital, also under a PLA, is on schedule and set to open in 2023.

There will be renovation work at Fairview Hospital to address patient and caregiver needs.

These projects follow the recent State of Ohio and JobsOhio $200 million investment and Cleveland Clinic’s $300 million investment in the Cleveland Innovation District.

This is the largest research effort in Cleveland Clinic’s history. Plans include adding 400,000 square feet of research space to accelerate discovery and position Northeast Ohio at the forefront of pathogen research and to prepare for the next pandemic.

Additionally, Cleveland Clinic is collaborating with community partners to bring a $52.8 million Meijer grocery market and apartment complex to the area to address food insecurity and revitalize the neighborhood.

“Cleveland Clinic is committed to helping its communities thrive – through better health and economic opportunity,” said Bill Peacock, Cleveland Clinic Chief of Operations. “Cleveland Clinic’s hiring, purchasing and capital projects make a meaningful, measurable and lasting impact on the wellbeing of our neighbors and our local economy.”