On May 15, 1929, nitrocellulose x-ray films stored in the basement of the outpatient building ignited.[18][19][20] An explosion sent a cloud of toxic oxides of nitrogen and carbon though the building. One hundred and twenty-three people lost their lives, including founder Dr. Phillips. A dozen investigating agencies were not able to determine what had caused the fire.[19] Cleveland Clinic's own inquiry narrowed the possible causes down to spontaneous combustion caused by heat; a discarded cigarette or match; or contact with an extension cord light hung over a stack of films.[19]

Philanthropist Samuel Mather formed a committee of 36 community leaders to help Cleveland Clinic reestablish itself in temporary quarters across the street.[19][21][22] Patient care services resumed five days later.[21] The 1921 building was completely renovated, and a new three-story clinic building, with a new main entrance, was added in 1931.[19] All debts were repaid by 1941.[23]

Crile and Lower relinquished their administrative duties in 1941.[16] In 1942, Cleveland Clinic’s Naval Reserve Unit, which included George Crile, Jr., a physician and son of George Washington Crile, established a mobile hospital in New Zealand to treat the wounded from the Guadalcanal Campaign.[24]

Growth of specialization[edit]

Patient drop-off area, Miller Family Pavilion, 2015
In 1954, Cleveland Clinic formally adopted governance by a Board of Governors consisting of nine physicians elected by the physician staff. They work with the CEO and lay administrators to formulate and carry out policy, overseen by a board of directors and board of trustees.[23][25][n 1]

Cleveland Clinic built new operating rooms in the early 1970s to accommodate the growth of cardiac surgery.[16] The Martha Holding Jennings Education Building opened in 1964, with an auditorium named for Dr. Bunts. A new hospital building (currently home to Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital) was opened in 1966, and a new research building went up in 1974 (demolished in 2007).[16] A pathology and laboratory medicine building was constructed on Carnegie Avenue in 1980.[27]

Willian S. Kiser, chairman of the board 1973–1989, led the development of a strategic plan to accommodate growing patient volumes in the late 1970s. This resulted in a group of buildings known as the Century Project. Completed in 1985, the Century Project including a 14-story