Cleveland Cavaliers, Cleveland Clinic, Bedrock Real Estate and Populous Unveil Cleveland Clinic Global Peak Performance Center
March 26, 2024
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The more than 210,000 square feet Populous-designed interdisciplinary center will serve as an elite performance training facility for the Cavaliers, the community and athletes from around the world.
Global sports and event architecture firm Populous is proud to announce a partnership with The Cleveland Cavaliers, Cleveland Clinic and Bedrock Real Estate to design the new Cleveland Clinic Global Peak Performance Center. Situated on the Cuyahoga River in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, the center will focus on enhancing athletes’ overall performance and serve as the Cleveland Cavaliers’ new home. The more than 210,000-square-foot facility is slated to be one of the world’s largest training facilities.
The Cleveland Clinic Global Peak Performance Center will be the first vertical development of Bedrock’s pioneering Cuyahoga Riverfront Master Plan, a $3.5 billion vision for the city of Cleveland that will advance 35 acres of the riverfront, prioritizing accessibility and sustainability. This latest evolution in the partnership between the Cavaliers and the Cleveland Clinic will create a lasting community asset that invites elite and everyday athletes from around the world to Cleveland. It also aims to position the city as a global sports science and wellness destination.
The center’s design was inspired by three principles:
Embrace the River
The center takes inspiration from the colors and curvature of the Cuyahoga River and the surrounding valley, creating core-to-shore connectivity that adds new dimension to the coastline. The center will also include a public kayak launch point that will give the general public the opportunity to enjoy the waterfront for the first time in nearly a century.
Create a Local Icon
Just blocks from the Gateway Sports Complex and Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, the Cleveland Clinic Global Peak Performance Center will bring renewed energy and beauty to downtown Cleveland and join the FieldHouse as a vital part of the city’s vision of being an 18-hour, 15-minute neighborhood to live, work, play and stay.
Elevate the Athlete’s Experience
Through a holistic and revolutionary approach to training, treatment, nutrition and recovery from The Clinic’s professional medical specialists, it will be the only Cleveland Clinic-backed professional facility to be open to the public. It will also provide a platform for the Cavs Academy program, which serves more than 50,000 youth athletes across Northeast Ohio every year.
Our design of the Global Peak Performance Center will catalyze the Cuyahoga Riverfront development and energize the City of Cleveland. The building's design connects the movement of the river with the motion of the athlete, blending seamlessly with the industrial character of its environment.
Jonathan Mallie, Senior Principal, Populous
“This project is the first step in creating a more vibrant and growth-oriented neighborhood, transforming the look and feel of downtown,” said Dan Gilbert, Cleveland Cavaliers chairman and Bedrock founder and chairman. “We are grateful to our partners at the city of Cleveland and the Cleveland Clinic for their support with this very important and exciting project that will ignite our new vision for the riverfront.”
The Cleveland Clinic Global Peak Performance Center will offer comprehensive care for the general public, including athletes of all sports and levels, with access to testing and high-tech training equipment and devices, along with expert professionals from a variety of specialties, including orthopedic surgery, sports medicine, cardiology, pulmonology, exercise physiology, neurology, nutrition, psychology and genetics. Using big data repositories acquired through key partnerships and The Cleveland Clinic’s global footprint, the center will leverage cutting-edge artificial intelligence technology to gain novel insights about human performance to 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.
The new performance center is 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.
“The vision and functionality of this state-of-the-art facility will be a generational game changer for the Cleveland Cavaliers,” said Koby Altman, Cavaliers president of basketball operations. “The overall investment in this project speaks to how much the franchise prioritizes the well-being of our players, while also delivering exceptional resources to enhance their skills to an elite level. We have a Championship-caliber culture, and this is another example of that commitment to our players, coaches, and support staff to continue elevating the organization into the league’s best. The community engagement with the Cleveland Clinic, coupled with the downtown location, will provide another impactful destination offering to Northeast Ohio.”
Since 1993, the Cleveland Clinic has served as the Cavaliers’ official healthcare provider, offering the highest quality healthcare and medical services to Cavaliers’ players, families, employees and fans. More than 30 years later, the Cleveland Clinic Global Peak Performance Center represents the most ambitious project these two organizations have ever pursued together.
Pending approval, groundbreaking on the Cleveland Clinic Global Peak Performance Center is anticipated before the end of 2024.
For additional information, please visit cavs.com/performancecenter.