Wolfe Foundation Gives $50M for Ohio State Wexner Medical Center Hospital Tower Project

The Robert F. Wolfe and Edgar T. Wolfe Foundation has made a $50-million commitment to The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center’s new hospital tower, set to open in 2026. In recognition, the inpatient tower will have two named spaces: the John F. Wolfe Lobby and the Wolfe Foundation Crossroads, pending approval by the university’s board of trustees at its February meeting.

John F. Wolfe was well known as the publisher of The Columbus Dispatch and served as chair and CEO of The Dispatch Printing Company. As a civic leader, he made an impact on projects across the city to help Columbus realize its potential. He supported Ohio State’s goal to create a nationally renowned academic medical center. He was instrumental in the construction of the original James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, which opened in 1990 and has steadily grown ever since.

At 1.9 million square feet and 24 floors, the inpatient tower is 75% complete. It is the single largest facilities project undertaken at Ohio State. The hospital is designed for flexible and team-based care that centers around the patient and their family. Its interdisciplinary focus will allow for collaborative teaching, research and clinical trials throughout the building. With up to 820 private rooms and 51 neonatal intensive care beds, it will add capacity to care for a growing community.