Cleveland Clinic Breaks Ground for Mentor Hospital

CCF Virtual Groundbreaking

Cleveland Clinic executives and Mentor City Manager Kenneth Filipiak took part in a virtual groundbreaking ceremony for the Cleveland Clinic Mentor Hospital on Sept. 20.

Officials from the Cleveland Clinic held a virtual groundbreaking ceremony on Sept. 20 to mark the beginning of construction on a new hospital in Mentor.

The project was delayed by a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but ground has officially broken, generating expectations of amble work opportunities for local union tradesmen and tradeswomen.

Members of multiple building trades affiliated with the Cleveland Building and Construction Trades Council stand to benefit from a longstanding relationship with the Cleveland Clinic, as many past Cleveland Clinic projects have been completed under Project Labor Agreements (PLA).

International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Local 16 President Danny Musacchio expressed his excitement for the upcoming project.

“With our long history with Cleveland Clinic in Cuyahoga County, it will be no surprise if they turn to us to build another state-of-the-art facility for them,” he said.

He also commented on the impact it will have on workers and the economy in Lake County – located just east of Cuyahoga.

“This will certainly be a fruitful project across the board for all the trades involved – a chance for many trades people to work locally where they live and spend their hard-earned money,” Musacchio said. “Additionally, what a great opportunity to demonstrate exactly what the most skilled hands in the business are capable of to our friends and neighbors who will undoubtedly be watching the progress of this long-awaited project.”

The hospital will be located on a 47-acre plot of land just north of the I-90/S.R. 615 interchange. There is room for future expansion after work is completed, expected sometime in 2023.

Lake County is currently served by just two hospitals, both partnered with University Hospitals and owned by Lake Health Systems.

Cleveland Clinic President of Ohio Hospitals and Family Health Centers, Dr. Donald Malone Jr., said the hospital will focus on digestive disease, general surgery, urology, heart and vascular care, as well as orthopedics and pulmonary care.

Plans for the new Mentor Hospital call for 34 inpatient rooms, at least 22 outpatient rooms and 19 emergency room bays. The inpatient and outpatient rooms will be built in a way that allows them to serve either purpose.

Cleveland Clinic officials are excited to see the hospital system grow in the county neighboring their world headquarters.

“We are pleased to proceed with building Mentor Hospital and expanding Cleveland Clinic care in the Lake County community,” Cleveland Clinic spokeswoman Kate McLain told The Labor Citizen in June.

Mentor City Manager Kenneth Filipiak believes the construction of Mentor Hospital will positively impact the city and open the door for future development.

“Projects like this are transformative for communities,” he said during the virtual ground breaking event. “We have no doubt this project will have a major impact on community health, job opportunities, investment, extended learning opportunities and so much more in our city.”

Musacchio shares the belief that Mentor Hospital will lead to future development.

“There will undoubtedly be supporting infrastructure being built in the future,” he said. “The 186-acre Bolton property located directly across the street from the Clinic site has petitioned for rezoning, which Mentor City Council recently unanimously approved.”

He believes this potential development will lead to more work for local union tradesmen and tradeswomen.

“Not only is this great news for the already robust local economy, but also for the local trades unions whose value on display at the hospital will certainly lead to generating work opportunities for our members as this property develops.”