Final Steel Beam Placed on Cleveland Clinic’s New Neurological Building

A major milestone was achieved Thursday, Jan. 30, in the construction of a $1.1 billion state-of-the-art building for Cleveland Clinic’s Neurological Institute: the final steel beam was hoisted into place.

The final beam was signed by caregivers, patients and visitors at the event and during the preceding days when it was on display in Cleveland Clinic’s J building lobby.

The 1-million-square-foot building will dramatically expand the physical infrastructure dedicated to neurological care at Cleveland Clinic and consolidate inpatient and outpatient care services under one roof. It also will include many advanced technological design features that will better meet the needs of patients with neurological diseases.

“This is a unique facility dedicated to the outpatient and inpatient care of patients with disorders of the brain, spine and nerves,” said Andre Machado, M.D., PhD, Neurological Institute Chief. “It will house a highly advanced and integrated team of professionals who have a dual mission: to provide the best care possible today while discovering the neurological care of tomorrow.”

“This new building helps fulfill Cleveland Clinic’s mission to be both the best place to receive healthcare and the best place to work in healthcare,” he added.

The building, partially funded through philanthropic gifts, is set to open in early 2027. It will be the largest building on Cleveland Clinic’s main campus and will include 218 inpatient rooms, 120 outpatient exam rooms, 36 neurological ICU beds and 12 operating rooms initially. Imaging, infusion and surgical services will be offered, and research labs will investigate brain function and work to develop novel therapies for neurological conditions. The building features space designated to accommodate anticipated future growth.

All areas will be equipped with state-of-the-art technology, some of it invented in Cleveland. This will include the ability to capture patient gait and other data in a specially designed hallway before they go to see their provider, and assessment stations that will gather additional data such as voice pattern and cognitive function changes.

Patient flow will be aided with real-time location technology that will direct patients where to go as soon as they enter the facility. It also will be used to identify and maximize inpatient interactions with their caregiving team.

“Physicians and engineers joined forces to develop systems that will make this a smart building that facilitates advanced diagnostics, research and patient outcomes,” said Robert Bermel, M.D., director of the Mellen Center for Multiple Sclerosis Treatment and Research at Cleveland Clinic. “The building will be an actual partner in patient care and will generate data for research in the course of routine clinical practice.”

“Combined with advanced brain mapping, electrophysiology and imaging technology, we will have the unsurpassed ability to characterize neurological function,” Dr. Bermel said. “If we achieve our goal, then things that seem like science fiction now, such as regenerative or neurorestorative therapies, will happen in this building.”

Jay Alberts, PhD, vice chair of innovation at Cleveland Clinic Neurological Institute, said the data gathered via technology will provide meaningful data to the medical team that can transform patient care.

“The objective data characterizing neurological function and its integration into clinical workflows will allow providers to focus on addressing our patients’ most pressing needs,” Dr. Alberts said.

A team of experts – physicians, nurses, physical therapists and others – have been involved in the building plans to ensure a seamless blend of design and functionality. The building maximizes open spaces with natural light and no maze-like corridors, providing ease of wayfinding for patients and families.

The design architect for the building is Hopkins Architects. The healthcare planner and architect of record is Stantec Architecture. The construction manager is Turner Construction.