Ohio State University (OSU) has announced a $50 million gift from the Robert F. Wolfe and Edgar T. Wolfe Foundation in support of the Wexner Medical Center’s Hospital Tower project, set to open in 2026.

The tower project, which is 75 percent complete, is the single largest facilities project undertaken at OSU and will include 1.9 million square feet and 24 floors. With an interdisciplinary focus, the building will allow for collaborative teaching, research, and clinical trials. John F. Wolfe, who died in 2016, was the publisher of The Columbus Dispatch and served as chair and CEO of the Dispatch Printing Company. He also served on several boards for the university and its health system for over 20 years. A fervent supporter of Ohio State University and its medical center, Wolfe was instrumental in the construction of the original James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, which opened in 1990. Pending the university board’s approval, two sections of the new tower will be named in his honor: the John F. Wolfe Lobby and the Wolfe Foundation Crossroads.

“Few people know, or will ever know, even half of the good works John F. Wolfe and Ann Wolfe put their shoulders behind to benefit Columbus and central Ohio. They preferred to be a quiet force for good with lasting impact,” said Ohio Governor Mike DeWine. “I think John F. Wolfe would be delighted about his family’s continued efforts to improve the quality of life in central Ohio, and health care is vital to quality of life.”

(Photo credit: Ohio State University)