University Circle Brings Culture, Art and More to One Incredible Square Mile

University Circle is a sliver of Cleveland that brings healthcare, higher education, culture and art together in one outstanding neighborhood. Consistently ranked among the top four art districts by USA Today readers, University Circle is home to Case Western Reserve University, the Cleveland Institute of Art and so much more.

Roughly 10 minutes from the downtown area, University Circle is one of the featured building tours scheduled for the 2025 International Code Council Annual Conference, Expo and Committee Action Hearings (October 19-30). 

“Within [University Circle] you will find some of Cleveland’s most major attractions, including the Cleveland Museum of Art and Severance Music Center,” said Heidi Hudak, Chief Marketing & Experience Officer of University Circle Inc. “Both are globally renowned with traveling artists and exhibits that are absolutely phenomenal.”

Conference attendees will have the chance to peruse University Circle’s beautiful and exquisite architecture, including the Cleveland Museum of Contemporary Art, whose mirrored exterior serves as a showpiece for the wonders hidden inside.

“So many of the buildings here were built with such a beautiful aesthetic,” Hudak added. “You will see a variety of different architectural styles, [so] if you enjoy architecture, there’s quite a bit here that [you] will like.”

A Square of Influence

University Circle was born after Western Reserve University and Case Institute of Technology decided to relocate in the 1800s. Both schools were in search of new land and discovered the perfect spot just four miles east of downtown Cleveland, and would later merge to become Case Western Reserve University in 1967. Numerous other educational and cultural institutions opened along the way, including the Cleveland Museum of Art (1916) and Cleveland Museum of Natural History (1920).

The Cleveland Clinic, which borders University Circle, opened in 1921. Other nearby hospitals and medical facilities include the American Cancer Society, Centers for Dialysis Care, Cleveland Sight Center, Hitchcock Center for Women, Magnolia Clubhouse and the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northeast Ohio.

University Circle provides 26,000 jobs within its 1.25 square mile radius, and 10,000 of those jobs (nearly 40 percent) have been added since 2004. Better still, University Circle has an area impact totaling 67,000 jobs, which represent a very notable chunk of the 270,000 jobs provided by the City of Cleveland.

In August, Laketran expanded its Park-n-Ride commuter service to University Circle to accommodate its notable job growth and to better serve those who work in the area. A growing number of people are also choosing to live in University Circle, with numerous single-family homes and duplexes housing their 8,700 residents. According to Hudak, more housing is on the way.

“We have really strong neighbor communities,” she said. “[In addition to] single-family homes and duplexes, we’ve been getting a lot of development in multi-unit dwelling in this area as well, both high-end and some affordable multi-unit housing apartments and condos. We’ve seen such explosive growth in University Circle for the past 15 years! Having Cleveland Clinic’s campus right here is incredible too because we get so many visitors who are here for work and here for residencies.”

Something For Everyone

University Circle is unique in that it truly offers something for everyone. For example, the Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum (which is part of the Cleveland History Center) provides an exciting look at the history of transportation and the role Ohio played in evolving mobility.

This isn’t solely a place for museums, however. Those who want to enjoy the great outdoors can explore one of University Circle’s many parks or experience nature in a new way by visiting the Cleveland Botanical Garden.

Anyone who appreciates classical music will be enthralled by the performances at the Severance Music Center. University Circle is also home to the Cleveland Institute of Music Kulas Hall, the Maltz Performing Arts Center and the Cleveland Institute of Art Cinematheque, which screens classic, foreign and indie films.

With so much to do, many – including Hudak – find it difficult to pick a favorite.

“For me, it’s the variety of the experiences,” she said. “If it’s a rainy, chilly day, and I want to go through the Cleveland Museum of Art and just sort of feel cozy in that way and look at art, I can do that. If I want to listen to world-class music from classical composers from Vienna, I can do that at Severance. If I want to look at local or traveling artists who are really edgy and contemporary, the Sculpture Center is bringing somebody incredible.”

The Code Council’s 2025 Annual Conference, Expo and Committee Action Hearings kick off on October 19 and run through October 30. Learn more by heading over to our conference page and don’t miss your chance to sign up for the University Circle building tour.