the cleveland clinic lou ruvo center for brain health by frank gehry AP photo / isaac brekken

the cleveland clinic lou ruvo center for brain health, designed by architect frank gehry officially opened last friday. the building which consists of the architects signature steel forms is a leading research centre for degenerative brain diseases.

after years of  refusing to design a building in las vegas,  gehry agreed to design the cleveland clinic lou ruvo center after forming a bond with founder larry ruvo, a las vegas liquor distributor who was compelled to start a neurological research facility after watching his father, lou, struggle with alzheimer’s.

gehry has his own personal interest in research on brain disorders. his longtime friend and analyst, the late milton wexler, saw a wife and three sisters-in-law succumb to huntington’s disease. at wexler’s request, the architect joined the board of the hereditary disease foundation more than 30 years ago.

gehry told ruvo he’d design the building only if ruvo added huntington’s to the list of diseases the new center would treat and study. the complex further expanded its offerings when the cleveland clinic, the multidisciplinary healthcare research and treatment center in ohio, reached an agreement with the ruvo center to operate the las vegas facility.

frank gehry: the cleveland clinic lou ruvo center for brain health - 2 photo © etslee

the 100 million USD complex comprises two wings connected by an open courtyard: a dedicated research center, located at the northern end of the building, and a ‘for-hire’ event space, dubbed the life activity center, located at the southern end. the four storey clinic to the north, which holds medical offices, patient rooms and  the research space, is relatively straightforward consisting of  a collection of stacked boxes in white stucco and glass. the office wing, is not a pure geometric shape but a jumbled, unsettled collection of boxy forms, stepping back as it rises and tracing a subtle arc along the streetfront.

frank gehry: the cleveland clinic lou ruvo center for brain health - 3 photo © etslee

frank gehry: the cleveland clinic lou ruvo center for brain health - 4 photo © etslee

frank gehry: the cleveland clinic lou ruvo center for brain health - 5 photo © etslee

frank gehry: the cleveland clinic lou ruvo center for brain health - 6 the road leading to the cleveland clinic lou ruvo center for brain health photo © etslee

frank gehry: the cleveland clinic lou ruvo center for brain health - 7 photo © etslee

frank gehry: the cleveland clinic lou ruvo center for brain health - 8 the structure dividing the two wings photo © etslee

frank gehry: the cleveland clinic lou ruvo center for brain health - 9 the four-storey clinic photo © etslee

frank gehry: the cleveland clinic lou ruvo center for brain health - 10 the entrance photo © etslee

frank gehry: the cleveland clinic lou ruvo center for brain health - 11 the life activity center photo © etslee

the life activity center is a soaring sculptural volume tucked beneath a signature gehry stainless steel roof. designed as an event space, it can be rented out for parties, weddings and special occasions with the proceeds going to fund the center’s research.

frank gehry: the cleveland clinic lou ruvo center for brain health - 12 architect frank gehry stands in front of the cleveland clinic lou ruvo center for brain health AP photo / isaac brekken

at the opening, the cleveland clinic announced its intentions to expand its focus and its presence in las vegas beyond the ruvo center, perhaps adding cardiology services next with the future promise of growing a full service hospital there.

for more images of gehry’s lou ruvo center for brain health see etslee’s flickr photostream.