The new Jeffrey and Patricia Cole Pavilion at Cleveland Clinic’s Cole Eye Institute is an outpatient facility, designed to expand the Cole Eye Institute’s offerings, in order to meet an increased demand for eye care and procedures.

Conceptualized around a team-based operating model, the new facility is designed to improve patient access, increase clinical and research capabilities, and enhance the human experience. The institute features an ophthalmic surgical center with eight operating rooms, three refractive surgery procedure rooms, and 60 outpatient eye exam rooms, and offers eye imaging technology and clinical, diagnostic and surgical services for a range of eye diseases.

The expansion defines the northern edge of the east-west green corridor, creating a strong architectural presence while enhancing connectivity to nature. Inside, clinic spaces are thoughtfully arranged to maximize wayfinding, natural light, and views of the surrounding green space, ensuring an intuitive and stress-free experience.  Administration offices, as well as spaces for education and research, are housed within the building.

Central to the design is a three-sided glass atrium, serving as a connector and threshold between the existing institute and the new addition. This transparent volume—now the main lobby—floods the interior with daylight, fostering a sense of calm and reinforcing spatial clarity.

The design is marked by a clean, minimalist aesthetic featuring gamma stone facades inlaid with locally quarried Indiana limestone, bridges floating perpendicular across the open atrium, and two monumental stairs with recessed handrails. The result is a design that elevates the interplay of light and shadow, a fitting architectural language for a clinic dedicated to vision care.

HGA is also leading the design of the second phase of the project that will renovate the existing Cole Eye Institute building, which houses pediatric care and eye imaging.

Architect: HGA
Architect of Record: Bostwick Design Partnership
Interior Design: Bostwick Design Partnership
Contractor: Whiting-Turner
Photography: Brad Feinknopf