Case Western Reserve University dedicates new building on its West Quad, the former Mt. Sinai Medical Center site
New headquarters for Cleveland Center for Structural Biology, Wright Fuel Cell Group
October 24, 2005 | For more information: Laura M. Massie (216)-368-4442
Tomorrow officials from Case Western Reserve University will dedicate a new building for two of its high-powered programs in medicine and engineering. The 18,700 square-foot brick, steel and glass structure provides a home for the Cleveland Center for Structural Biology (CCSB) and for the Wright Fuel Cell Group. As the first new facility on the site of the former Mt. Sinai Medical Center, the building also represents the rebirth for the 14-acre parcel of land now called the West Quad.
Speaking at the dedication will be Case President Edward M. Hundert, M.D.; Ralph I. Horwitz, M.D., dean of the School of Medicine; Robert F. Savinell, dean of the Case School of Engineering; and Frank Samuel, Ohio Gov. Bob Taft's science and technology director.
Total cost of the project was $8.1 million. The building was designed by TSA of Massachusetts in partnership with Kling Architects and engineers. The builder was Gilbane Building Co.
The CCSB and Wright Fuel Cell Group share the building almost equally. The CCSB portion of the building provides large open spaces for its imaging equipment, which is used to analyze proteins and other large molecules. Already there are three spectrometers, their power measured in terms of the strength of their magnets in megahertz: 600 MHz, 500 MHz and 300 MHz. They were relocated from CCSB's previous facility, a building located on Carnegie Avenue that once housed a furniture store. These instruments use magnets to pinpoint the location of atoms in the molecules. Later this year, the CCSB expects delivery of one of the most powerful pieces of equipment for this type of work, a 900 MHz spectrometer which will be delivered from Germany.
The CCSB is an association of researchers from Case, the Cleveland Clinic Foundation and Cleveland State University who study structure-function relationships and properties of large molecules that are involved in disease states. The center serves as a focal point to bring together researchers with interest in structural biology, to generate a stimulating research and educational environment, and to facilitate and promote interactions between structural biologists and medical colleagues. Further roles of the CCSB are in attracting high caliber faculty, research associates and students to the area and in generating resources for major research equipment. In these ways, the CCSB plays a key role in promoting biomedical research in Northern Ohio.
Across the hall, labs for the Wright Fuel Cell Group (WFCG) were designed with openness and flexibility in mind to allow for future changes in fuel cell technology. The space includes two sophisticated fuel cell test beds for testing new technology and five walk-in exhaust enclosures for set-up of experiments in controlled environments. In 2003, the state of Ohio awarded $18 million to academic, industry and other institutional collaborators within WFCG to accelerate innovation and commercialization for the fuel cell industry across the state.
Led by Case, WFCG is a collaboration of five Ohio academic institutions, a broad coalition of industrial companies and other nonprofit organizations. The new building serves as an anchor facility consolidating commercialization and research activity on or near the campus. In addition to laboratories and equipment for applied fuel cell research and testing, administrative space to encourage industrial relations and incubator space for start-ups and expanding businesses is available. Through the WFCG's partnerships, Ohio-based manufacturers of fuel cell products will be able to use the West Quad research facilities to perfect their products and get them ready for market.
The building also has a large classroom for teaching and large areas of glass to allow visibility and light within the building.
About Case Western Reserve University
Case is among the nation's leading research institutions. Founded in 1826
and shaped by the unique merger of the Case Institute of Technology and Western
Reserve University, Case is distinguished by its strengths in education, research,
service, and experiential learning. Located in Cleveland, Case offers nationally
recognized programs in the Arts and Sciences, Dental Medicine, Engineering,
Law, Management, Medicine, Nursing, and Social Work. http://www.case.edu.
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