Insights

On April 10, 2018, UC Health celebrated another milestone as they topped off the future home for neurological outpatient care in Cincinnati—the University of Cincinnati (UC) Gardner Neuroscience Institute.

UC Health leaders, friends and supporters watched as the final steel beam was raised to the top of the four-story patient care building under construction at the corner of Martin Luther King Drive and Eden Avenue. The new 114,000-square-foot facility will serve as the home base for more than 125 faculty physicians and researchers in the neurosciences, providing comprehensive care for the most complex neurological patients.

Prior to the ceremony, the 38-foot beam was available for UC Health employees, faculty, staff and students as well as the patient community and supporters to leave their signature as a part of the building’s history. Messer Construction also added an evergreen tree as is tradition for luck, life and growth for the building and its occupants.

Construction began in late May 2017 on the four-story patient care building designed by global architecture and design firm, Perkins+Will, who incorporated the feedback of a patient advisory group to design the space with neurological patients in mind. Their input was considered in every aspect, from the lighting and waiting areas, to conference and education spaces to clinical care locations, and accessible parking. Messer Construction Company, whose portfolio includes numerous healthcare facilities including medical centers and medical office buildings, surgical suites and research facilities, is the builder for the project.

Richard Lofgren, MD, UC Health president and CEO, said the event, “is symbolic of what can happen when we work collaboratively with those we serve to truly understand what’s most needed, and meet the needs for our community.”

At the ceremony, Joseph Broderick, MD, professor of neurology at the UC College of Medicine and director of the UC Gardner Neuroscience Institute, said, “We are excited to announce that after good progress on our fundraising campaign and a re-assessment of clinical needs, we will additionally be finishing out the fourth floor, increasing the footprint by 33% over what was previously planned, and bringing the total project cost up to over $68 million. This will allow for otolaryngology and an expanded space for neurosurgery to both to be incorporated into the building.”

The fourth floor was originally planned as unfinished space, to allow for later growth.

The UC Gardner Neuroscience Institute provides comprehensive care across its 14 specialty centers including treatments for Parkinson’s, epilepsy, brain tumors, mood disorders, stroke care and rehabilitation and Alzheimer’s.

“What is unique about the construction of the new UC Gardner Neuroscience Institute is that it is not only a new location for patients, but is built around the concept of multidisciplinary care by faculty physicians and clinical researchers to improve the outcome of care through research and education,” said William Ball, MD, Christian R. Holmes Professor and Dean of the UC College of Medicine and senior vice president for health affairs at UC. “This new facility will offer new opportunities to educate our patients and our students, as well as improved access to advanced clinical trials.”

The new UC Gardner Neuroscience Institute building is made possible by the generosity of the Cincinnati community. In 2015, the UC Foundation launched a $54.5 million fundraising campaign to contribute to the creation of the new facility and to expand programming at the institute. More than $40 million already has been raised, including a $14 million gift from the James J. and Joan A. Gardner Family Foundation. The Farmer Family Foundation also contributed a lead gift.