Cosm, a new “shared-reality” sports entertainment destination, tops out on the north side of Huron Road in the Gateway District (Harrison Whittaker). CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.
Progress Pics: Cosm, Asphalt Art, The Dugout, more
On Friday, Cosm celebrated the structural completion of a new 100-foot, 12k-resolution LED dome in Downtown Cleveland’s Gateway District. The “shared-reality” entertainment venue, developed by Bedrock, will stream sports games and events for live audiences.
The news comes only two months after NEOtrans reported that crews had begun vertical construction on the 70,000-square-foot structure, located at the northeast corner of East 4th Street and Huron Road.
“Cosm Cleveland will be Cosm’s fifth venue and its largest nationwide,” wrote Rock Entertainment Group (REG) in an Instagram post, commemorating the topping off of construction. REG, which manages the Cleveland Cavaliers among other professional sports teams, will operate the new venue.
The massive scale of Cosm Cleveland’s 100-foot LED dome is apparent from the size of its steel superstructure (Harrison Whittaker).
“The immersive entertainment destination will anchor Bedrock’s Rock Block development and add even more vibrancy to our city’s urban core,” the company continued. The venue is expected to open in Summer 2027.
While the rest of the Rock Block site may eventually be developed with up to two more buildings, Bedrock has not announced immediate plans for the site. For now, a surface parking lot is planned to the north of Cosm opposite a new east-west pedestrian plaza.
Cosm was designed by Detroit-based architectural firm Rosetti. The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company of Baltimore is the project’s general contractor.
A surface parking lot is planned to the north of Cosm, opposite a new pedestrian plaza. The site could be developed in a later phase (Harrison Whittaker).
Downtown’s sports-focused Gateway District is also seeing several smaller changes. On June 16, the 10th anniversary of the Cleveland Cavaliers’ 2016 NBA Championship win, REG and local leaders celebrated the opening of Downtown Cleveland’s first public basketball court.
Located at the new Meet Me Here Plaza at the northwest corner of East 4th Street and Huron Road, the court has become a favorite among casual players.
Downtown Cleveland’s first public basketball court has proven to be well-utilized, with games continuing into the evening (Harrison Whittaker).
Meanwhile at the intersection of Huron Road and Prospect Avenue, a streetscaping project funded by a $100,000 grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Asphalt Art Initiative wrapped up ahead of schedule due to a high volunteer turnout.
Designed by local Ryan Jaenke, the street art is expected to improve road safety by catching the attention of drivers in spots with high levels of pedestrian and bike traffic.
Cleveland’s Asphalt Art installation at Huron Road and Prospect Avenue is expected to improve safety for cyclists and pedestrians (Harrison Whittaker).
On the pedestrianized section of East 4th Street, changes are underway to accommodate its future status as a Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA).
As early as this fall, customers aged 21 and older would be permitted to consume alcoholic beverages outside of bars and restaurants — provided that they are purchased from participating businesses, contained in official DORA cups, and remain within the designated 500-foot stretch of East 4th Street.
On the west side of East 4th Street, an ice cream shop, DORA-friendly pocket park, and seasonal bar are under construction (Harrison Whittaker).
Soon, a DORA-friendly pocket park, ice cream shop, and a seasonal bar called The Dugout will add new options for visitors on East 4th, replacing a former valet station.
Led by local developer MRN, Ltd., construction is already well underway. The Dugout will be operated by Hangry Brands, a Cleveland hospitality group which owns numerous popular restaurants.
For more construction updates around Greater Cleveland, check out NEOtrans’ other Progress Pics articles.
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