The Cleveland City Planning Commission has approved Bedrock‘s architectural plans for the Cleveland Clinic Global Peak Performance Center. This marks the first building project in the Detroit developer’s $3.5 billion, 20-year proposal to redevelop downtown Cleveland’s riverfront.
The performance center will serve as the Cleveland Cavaliers’ practice facility, bringing the NBA team back to downtown Cleveland after practicing in Independence. Builders will construct this first-of-its-kind sports performance center and training facility on the banks of the Cuyahoga River in downtown Cleveland.
The sports facility will anchor downtown Cleveland’s revitalization, boost the city as a global medical destination, and improve the health and well-being of Cavaliers players and Northeast Ohio residents.
Bedrock — owned by Dan Gilbert, the Detroit billionaire who also owns the Cavaliers — has worked closely with Cleveland and its city planners since unveiling the concept for the performance center in 2023.
What will Cleveland Clinic Global Peak Performance Center offer?
The Cleveland Clinic Global Peak Performance Center will offer comprehensive care for the general public, including athletes of all sports and levels. The center will provide access to testing and high-tech training equipment and devices, along with expert professionals from various specialties, including orthopedic surgery, sports medicine, cardiology, pulmonology, exercise physiology, neurology, nutrition, psychology and genetics.
The center will leverage cutting-edge artificial intelligence technology to gain novel insights about human performance, using big data repositories acquired through key partnerships and The Cleveland Clinic’s global footprint. This will maximize every athlete’s potential and give them a physical and mental competitive edge. The performance center will also translate these unique insights to populations beyond athletes, including medical and healthcare patients, first responders, and the military.
Since then, Cleveland officials have approved Bedrock’s 20-year master plan to redevelop the riverfront and two types of tax increment financing packages to help pay for the development. This includes rebuilding infrastructure such as the Eagle Avenue bridge that connects Ontario Street to West Third Street.
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Cleveland Clinic Global Peak Performance Center Groundbreaking
The developer and its partners plan to hold a groundbreaking ceremony for the center on Oct. 14.
Architectural look of the performance center
Jac Griffiths, a senior associate and architectural designer at Populous, Bedrock’s architectural firm for the project, said that the architectural look of the performance center has changed significantly since its proposal. Some of the planning commissioners had panned the initial design concept.
Designers have added a lot of glass and other transparent materials to the building — which resembles a ship in form — especially along its roofline. They also added a public art installation along the walk along the Cuyahoga River and enlarged the building’s lobby.
Lillian Kuri, chairwoman of the planning commission, thanked the planning team for developing the details of the building.
“It feels like at the ground level with the curve there that you guys are … opening up your arms … to the riverfront and for people who will be passing by … to come and find respite,” said Kuri, who also serves as president and CEO of the Cleveland Foundation. “I really think it will create an exceptional moment on the river.”
Joyce Pan Huang, Cleveland’s director of city planning, complimented the design team on how they broke up the mass of the immense building and added exterior lighting that appears dramatic at night.
“When it’s nighttime, people will enjoy the [riverfront] in a way that differs greatly from today,” Huang said.
Bedrock and its professional firms expect to ask the planning commissioners for their final nods on the project’s design later this fall.
Investing in the long-term sustainability
The Cleveland Clinic Global Peak Performance Center represents a substantial investment in the long-term sustainability and success of the Cavaliers franchise. When completed, it will reaffirm the team’s position as one of the world’s most forward-thinking and innovative professional sports franchises. The center will bring together a unique hub of resources to help extend the lifespan of players’ careers and help athletes attain their highest potential.
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Cleveland Clinic Global Peak Performance Center Project Factsheet
Project Name:
Cleveland Clinic Global Peak Performance Center
Developer:
Bedrock
Location:
Downtown Cleveland’s riverfront, on the banks of the Cuyahoga River
Project Scale:
Part of a $3.5 billion, 20-year riverfront redevelopment proposal
Primary Functions:
Cleveland Cavaliers’ practice facility
Sports performance center and training facility
Comprehensive care center for athletes and general public
Key Features:
State-of-the-art testing and training equipment
Access to multidisciplinary medical experts
AI-powered performance insights
Public art installation along the riverfront
Cleveland Clinic Global Peak Performance Center Architectural Design:
Resembles a ship in form
Extensive use of glass and transparent materials
Enlarged lobby area
Dramatic nighttime lighting
Expected Benefits:
Anchor downtown Cleveland’s revitalization
Boost Cleveland as a global medical destination
Improve health and well-being of Cavaliers players and local residents
Extend athletes’ career lifespans
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