Walk down Bellflower Road in Cleveland’s University Circle, and you’ll see it. It’s hard to miss. One second you are looking at stately, traditional brick structures, and the next, you’re staring at what looks like a giant, shiny metal explosion. This is the Peter B. Lewis Building.
Honestly, the first time I saw it, I wasn't sure if it was a building or a spaceship that had a rough landing. It’s the home of the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University (CWRU), but it looks more like a piece of modern art than a place where people study macroeconomics. Designed by the legendary Frank Gehry, it’s one of those places you either love with a passion or absolutely can't stand.
There is no middle ground here.
What is the Peter B. Lewis Building Cleveland actually for?
People usually assume it’s a museum. It makes sense, given that the Cleveland Museum of Art is just a short walk away. But nope. It’s a business school. Specifically, it’s the headquarters for the Weatherhead School of Management.
The idea was to create a space that forced people to think differently. Peter B. Lewis, the late chairman of Progressive Insurance and a massive Gehry fan, put up roughly $37 million of the $62 million total cost to make it happen. He wanted something "risk-taking." He definitely got it.
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The building opened in 2002, and it’s been a conversation starter ever since. Inside, it’s a maze of white walls, glass, and soaring skylights. It’s meant to encourage "distributed innovation." Basically, that’s fancy talk for making sure students and professors actually bump into each other and talk instead of hiding in cubicles.
The Frank Gehry Signature: Why it looks like a pile of ribbons
If you’ve seen the Guggenheim in Bilbao or the Walt Disney Concert Hall in LA, you’ll recognize the vibe immediately. Gehry doesn't do straight lines. He uses a software called CATIA—which was originally designed for fighter jets—just to figure out how to keep these wavy shapes from falling over.
The Peter B. Lewis Building is covered in about 20,000 stainless steel shingles. On a cloudy Cleveland day, they look soft and matte. But when the sun hits? It’s a different story.
The stuff they don't tell you in the brochure
Architecture buffs love the aesthetics, but living with a Gehry building is... an experience. Shortly after it opened, the university realized that those beautiful, undulating steel curves were basically giant slides for snow and ice.
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In a Cleveland winter, that’s a problem.
Giant sheets of ice would build up on the roof and then come crashing down onto the sidewalks like mini-avalanches. They had to put up barricades to keep students from getting clobbered by "Gehry-ice." Eventually, they had to change the landscaping and walkways to keep people out of the "splash zone."
Then there’s the glare. On a bright summer afternoon, the reflection off the steel can be blinding. It’s gorgeous, sure, but it’s also a reminder that sometimes high design and Northeast Ohio weather don't play nice together.
Is it worth a visit?
If you're in University Circle, 100% yes. You don't have to be an MBA student to appreciate it. You can walk right in—usually—and check out the atrium.
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The way the light hits the interior is pretty wild. It feels huge and intimate at the same time. You’ll see students drinking coffee on funky plywood furniture that Gehry also designed. It’s a vibe.
Fast facts for your next trivia night:
- The Brick: Notice the orange brick at the base? That was a compromise. The university wanted it to blend in a little bit with the older buildings nearby.
- The Cost: It ended up costing way more than originally planned, which led to a famous spat between Peter B. Lewis and the university's board. He actually stopped giving money to CWRU (and all Cleveland charities) for a while because he thought the project was being mismanaged.
- The Neighbors: It’s right next to the MOCA (Museum of Contemporary Art), which is another architectural heavy hitter.
Actionable Tips for Visiting the Peter B. Lewis Building
If you’re planning to swing by, here is how to actually do it without looking like a lost tourist:
- Time your visit for "Golden Hour." About an hour before sunset, the stainless steel turns a warm, glowing amber. It’s the best time for photos.
- Enter through the main atrium. Don't just look at the outside. The interior "cascading" walls are arguably more impressive than the exterior.
- Respect the study zones. It is still a functioning school. If you see a group of stressed-out grad students in a glass-walled room, maybe don't press your face against the glass to take a selfie.
- Park at the Ford Garage. It’s the easiest spot nearby. From there, it’s a three-minute walk past some of the coolest parts of the CWRU campus.
The Peter B. Lewis Building isn't just a place to learn about spreadsheets. It’s a testament to the idea that Cleveland isn't just a "rust belt" city—it’s a place where world-class, radical design actually gets built. Love it or hate it, you can't ignore it.
Next Steps for You:
If you're heading to University Circle, make sure to check the CWRU campus map for the exact location on Bellflower Road. Most of the building is open to the public during normal business hours (typically 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM), but keep in mind that during finals week or holidays, access might be restricted to students only. Check the Weatherhead School of Management website for any specific event closures before you drive down.