New 150,000-square-foot building is part of expansion project that included construction of building, alongside renovation and redesign of existing 130,000-square-foot Cole Eye Institute building
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Cleveland Clinic celebrated the dedication of the Jeffrey and Patricia Cole Pavilion at Cole Eye Institute during a ceremony at the site. The new 150,000-square-foot building is part of an expansion project that included the construction of the building, alongside the renovation and redesign of the existing 130,000-square-foot Cole Eye Institute building.
The expansion was made possible in part by a lead $31.5 million gift from long-time benefactors Jeffrey A. Cole and his wife Patricia O’Brien Cole. Mr. Cole, along with his company Cole National, which was the world’s largest provider of commercial vision care services and based in Cleveland for 60 years, also contributed the lead gift that founded the Cole Eye Institute in 1999. The Coles, native Clevelanders, are long-time residents of Palm Beach, Florida.
The new building opened its doors to patients in February 2025. The dedication ceremony marked a moment of gratitude and recognition for the donors whose philanthropic commitment to advancing eye care and vision research has helped shape the Cole Eye Institute.
“To be part of the creation of this fantastic institution more than a quarter of a century ago and to be the major supporter now of this amazing new facility has been one of the most satisfying experiences of my life,” said Jeffrey A. Cole.
One of the nation’s busiest and most advanced eye centers, Cole Eye Institute serves nearly 400,000 patients annually, including more than 21,000 surgical cases throughout its locations.
It is recognized internationally for pioneering research and excellence in treating complex eye conditions such as macular degeneration, glaucoma, cataracts and diabetic retinopathy. Since its opening in February, the new state-of-the-art facility and expansion on main campus has served more than 61,000 patients, and clinicians have performed over 7,600 surgical procedures in the new operating rooms.
To date, more than $125 million in philanthropy has supported the expansion, with gifts funding capital improvements as well as programs in patient care, research and education.