Project Category – New Construction (completed February 2001)

Facility Contact – Charles Truax, Vice-President of Construction Programs and General Services, University Hospitals Health Systems/Construction Programs, (216) 844-8210

Firm – van Dijk Pace Westlake Architects, (216) 522-1350

Design Team – Richard Pace, AIA, Principal-in-Charge; Ronald A. Reed, FAIA, Principal-in-Charge of Design; Michael Augoustidis, AIA, Associate, Project Director; Richard Keilman, AIA, Senior Designer, Project Manager; F. Cortland Agnew, Associate, Project Manager

Patient/Bed Capacity – N/A

Total Building Area (sq. ft.) – 100,000

Total Land Area (acres) – 9

Total Cost (excluding land) – $13,000,000


This project is a freestanding medical office building with 600 surface parking spaces in a suburban office park. The property is just under 9 acres and flanks the eastern edge of I-271 in a suburb east of Cleveland, Ohio. The building is four stories at approximately 25,000 GSF per floor, with a roof used for mechanical equipment. The programmed use is as a satellite facility of University Hospitals of Cleveland, housing outpatient medical programs that include oncologic care and treatment, cardiovascular rehabilitation, internal medicine and women’s health. It was of particular concern to the owner that the building shell and core be highly flexible and, through iconography and signage, that it take advantage of a highly visible and prominent site while creating an engaging and welcoming presence.

In response to the site, and understanding that the building will most often be viewed at high speeds, the western face was given a rippling skin of glass and diamond-shaped stainless steel shingles. The combination produces a very kinetic effect, catching light as one moves past and changing dramatically depending on the time of day or season. The stainless steel walls also shield the rooftop equipment and provide a backdrop for the letters of the signage.

In planning the interior layout, client circulation and waiting areas were arranged in a linear manner along the western edge of the building, overlooking I-271. Here the skin is a curtain wall of floor-to-ceiling glass, composed of clear, fritted and spandrel glasses. As a result, a passerby can see life and activity in the structure, putting a face on medical care. This is particularly dramatic in the early morning or evening, when this portion of the building becomes a bridge of light and activity.

The building was constructed on a fast-track delivery model, with multiple bid packages. This ensured that the project met schedule and budget, again supporting the business plan of the owner. Construction time from groundbreaking to opening was 22 months.