Mass. Eye and Ear opens new outpatient surgical center in Longwood/Mission Hill area of Boston

Massachusetts Eye and Ear, along with the Beal Companies, LLP, today celebrated the grand opening of its new outpatient surgical center at 800 Huntington Avenue in the Longwood/Mission Hill area of Boston. The location will provide access to Mass. Eye and Ear's world-class physicians and surgeons, and outpatient services. The center is expected to open to patients in November.

The 90,000-square-foot state-of-the-art center, which is owned and was developed by The Beal Companies, houses four operating rooms and allows easy and comfortable access for patients with convenient parking. The building is also home to the most advanced ophthalmology (eye care) clinical space and physician offices. Ear, nose and throat services will be added in the future.

Cutting the ribbon at the grand opening of the new center were: Peter Longley, Director of Operations, Tsoi/Kobus & Associates; Peter Meade, Director, Boston Redevelopment Authority; John Fernandez, President & CEO, Mass. Eye and Ear; Dr. Joan Miller, Mass. Eye and Ear Chief of Ophthalmology & Harvard Medical School Chair of Ophthalmology; Robert Beal, President, The Beal Companies, LLP; Michael Ross, Boston City Council, District 8; Wyc Grousbeck, Chairman of the Board, Mass. Eye and Ear; and Jeffrey Sanchez, Mass. State Representative. Also participating in the celebration was Angus Leary, Chief Operating Officer, Northeast, Suffolk Construction.

Designed by architects at Tsoi/Kobus & Associates, the center creates a welcoming environment for patients and staff, with special considerations for those with visual impairment. The building's interior includes high-contrast colors on walls and furnishings to facilitate way-finding for visually impaired patients. Sustainable and environmentally friendly materials were used in the building's construction. The floor plan also maximizes access to daylight by locating public waiting rooms, corridors and staff lounges near exterior windows.

The location includes an optical shop on the first floor, where Mass. Eye and Ear opticians will provide services. Inventory will include eyeglasses for both adults and children. The first floor also includes a coffee shop. Both resources are open to Mass. Eye and Ear patients and to members of the community.

"Massachusetts Eye and Ear has a long history of excellent clinical care and innovative research," said Mayor Thomas M. Menino. "Today I applaud this great institution for working closely with the Mission Hill neighborhood to bring critical specialized services to the community."

"The opening of our new outpatient surgical center means we'll be able to provide more access to our specialized care for those who need our services," said John Fernandez, President and CEO of Mass. Eye and Ear. We're creating good healthcare jobs and bringing world-class Mass. Eye and Ear care to this community. We're looking forward to collaborating with neighboring hospitals in the Longwood area to provide top-notch patient care and advance clinical research initiatives."

"We're delighted to have been able to work with Mass. Eye and Ear and the community to build a center such as this, which is so important to the City of Boston," said Robert L. Beal, President of The Beal Companies.