The Cleveland Clinic, Ohio's largest employer, is gearing up for its next big expansion, with plans to build even bigger than its recent round of construction that included a $1.1 billion neurological institute and two innovation district buildings. According to sources, the clinic is assembling properties and meeting with potential general contractors for future bidding on new facilities. The southeast corner of Opportunity Corridor Boulevard and East 79th Street is targeted for a significant laboratory and research center, expanding the main campus far south. This development could result in additional spin-off growth and may include a new hotel, research lab facilities, a new inpatient care bed tower, and possibly other caregiving towers.
One of the most intriguing aspects of this expansion is the potential relocation of the Cleveland Clinic InterContinental Hotel. The existing hotel, located at 9801 Carnegie Ave., may be replaced with a new bed tower, while the hotel is relocated to another site, possibly east of the Sheila and Eric Samson Pavilion medical school. This move could free up space for more specialized care units, such as new intensive care facilities, and additional inpatient care and recovery areas with modern, private rooms.
The Cleveland Clinic's Emergency Department is also set to be expanded and upgraded, potentially becoming a Level I trauma center. This development could lead to further expansions of inpatient care buildings and the addition of a new trauma center. The clinic has secured a $50 million grant from the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Supporting Foundation to support the development of the trauma center, opening the door for expanded follow-on care offerings.
The planned development at the southeast corner of Opportunity Corridor and East 79th Street is particularly interesting. This site, currently home to single-family homes, is targeted for a large structure enclosing advanced research laboratories, offices, meeting rooms, and possibly a café. The 96-year-old United States Post Office University Center Station on East 101st Street is also vulnerable to future development by the ever-growing Cleveland Clinic.
The Opportunity Corridor has become a hub for growing businesses in the food industry and health-related employers. Reese Consumer Health is planning a new office and warehouse facility just off the corridor, and the Cleveland Clinic and the city's Department of Economic Development are finalizing details on land assembly for the OC-East 79th site. The clinic has reportedly informed general contractors that it wants many of the new structures to be designed to be more vertical than horizontal, at least eight stories high for each.
The planned parking garages are another interesting aspect of this expansion. A nine-level, 1,500-car garage for patients and visitors is planned at the northeast corner of East 105th and Carnegie, with an enclosed pedestrian bridge over East 105th to the Taussig Cancer Center. To the west, at Carnegie and East 86th Street, an eight-level, 2,500-car garage for Clinic employees is planned, with an enclosed walkway over 86th to the East 89th MM garage, the Clinic's largest structure at 1.56 million square feet. These garages have yet to come before the City Planning Commission for full design review.
In conclusion, the Cleveland Clinic's next big expansion promises to be a significant development that will shape the future of healthcare in the region. With plans for new hotels, research labs, caregiving towers, and parking garages, the clinic is poised to become an even more prominent player in the healthcare industry. As the expansion unfolds, it will be fascinating to see how the clinic navigates the challenges of land assembly, design, and construction to create a state-of-the-art healthcare facility that meets the needs of the community.
