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New eye clinic building meets construction milestone

Last beam raised to top out Elks Children’s Eye Clinic
construction worker reaching up to stabilize large iron beam being moved by a crane
A signed beam, weighing 1,437 pounds, is moved during the topping out ceremony held May 20 for the Elks Children’s Eye Clinic at OHSU. (OHSU/Kristyna Wentz-Graff)

OHSU staff, patients and supporters gathered May 20 to celebrate a construction milestone for the new Elks Children’s Eye Clinic.

A crowd cheered as it watched the final beam being hoisted onto the highest level of the five-story, 60,000-square-foot building, which will be completed in 2020. Before the beam was erected, they had lined up to make their mark on the new project by signing the 1,437-pound piece. The new facility will be the United States’ first free-standing children’s eye clinic.

Once completed, the new Elks Children’s Eye Clinic will be home to an expanded pediatric eye clinic, the Wold Family Macular Degeneration Center, an ophthalmic genetics center and a clinical trials center. It is expected to help grow patient capacity by a third in 10 years and enable gene therapy clinical trials and treatments to quadruple in five years.

The $50-million building is made possible by a $20-million pledge from the Oregon State Elks, a $7.5-million donation from the Wold family and many more gifts from other generous supporters.

The project received the Portland Design Commission’s 3rd Annual Design Excellence Award this spring. The building’s design is by NBBJ of Seattle and its construction is being led by Skanska of Portland.

Those interested in contributing toward the project can call 503-228-1730 or send an email to ohsufinfo@ohsu.edu.

 

 

 

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