Responding to Growing Demand for Specialized Eye Care and Training
The new Eye Institute for West Virginia University Medicine is a purpose-built facility that consolidates clinical care, teaching, and research under one roof. The project expands capacity for specialized ophthalmic services in a state with one of the highest rates of visual disability in the nation, positioning the Institute to meet both current pressures and projected growth.
The project was the result of a comprehensive campus master plan completed in 2019, in which HED partnered with WVU Medicine to examine the future of the Eye Institute and its role within the broader health system.
At the time of the study, the Institute supported 35 faculty and accommodated approximately 70,000 annual patient visits within 60 exam rooms distributed across five floors. Clinical services, teaching, and research operated at capacity, with limited flexibility to adapt as demand increased.
Projections indicated a significant growth trajectory, reaching 110,000 annual visits and encompassing expanded inpatient and outpatient surgery as well as additional research activity. The assessment made clear that the existing facility could not meaningfully support the Institute’s clinical volume, staffing goals, or long-term academic mission.
HED’s design response focused on creating a facility scaled to match both current pressures and future opportunity. The new Eye Institute is planned to include 102 exam rooms, 44 testing rooms, and dedicated surgical suites, consolidating functions that were previously fragmented across floors. This shift supports clearer clinical workflows, reduces patient movement, and allows care teams to work with greater efficiency and focus.
The expanded footprint also opens capacity for new subspecialties and advanced diagnostic and surgical services, strengthening the Institute’s role as a destination for complex eye care in the region.
Beyond clinical capacity, the project directly supports the Institute’s ability to recruit and retain providers. A larger, purpose-designed environment allows WVU Medicine to grow its faculty, expand service offerings, and create a workplace that reflects the sophistication of the care delivered inside. These improvements also extend to education. With additional space and improved adjacencies, the Eye Institute can increase the number of trainees it supports, reinforcing its role in preparing the next generation of ophthalmologists.
Research is another key driver of the project. The expanded facility allows for the growth of clinical research programs focused on diseases and conditions that disproportionately affect the people of West Virginia and the surrounding region. By bringing care, teaching, and research into closer alignment, the building supports a more integrated academic health model, one grounded in daily clinical practice and regional need.
This work reflects HED’s thoughtful approach to healthcare planning and design, pairing data-driven analysis with a clear understanding of mission and community impact. Through the campus master plan and the ongoing design of the new Eye Institute, HED helped position West Virginia University Medicine to respond confidently to demand, strengthen its academic and clinical standing, and expand access to specialized ophthalmic care for decades to come.