UP Health System | Marquette

UP Health System | Marquette

In 2014, Marquette General Hospital was purchased by Duke-Lifepoint, a joint venture between Lifepoint Health and Duke University’s Health System. The existing hospital campus had experienced growth over time that resulted in complicated circulation patterns and detrimental departmental adjacencies. This replacement hospital campus consists of a 229 bed patient tower, a clinical services building, an interventional platform, and a 3-story garage.

Site + Remediation

Locating the new hospital in the middle of downtown Marquette proved to be a significant challenge. The size of the available site required a compact and vertical design, while the brownfield, EPA superfund site required intense remediation. The payoff, however was a $300m investment in the center of the small community.

Context + Identity

In addition to serving downtown Marquette, the hospital is the preeminent healthcare provider for the entire Upper Peninsula. For this reason, the size of the structure is significantly larger than any other building in the town of 20k residents. Sensitively placing this building in its context required a close attention to scale, an examination of context, and a public conversation about identity.

Wellbeing + Sustainability

Evidence-based design reveals the important role that daylight and natural vistas have in a healing environment. As such, the floor plate allows for maximal daylight, and the building orientation reinforces a sense of place by choreographing views of city landmarks. A partnership with the Michigan Audubon resulted in an exterior skin that enacts safe design for migratory birds.

Location: Marquette, MI

Client: Duke LifePoint

Program: Replacement Hospital, Medical Office, Structured Parking

Square Feet: 560,000

Year Completed: 2019

Role: Exterior Design Leader

Project Coordinator + Detailer

Awards: 2020 AIA Tennessee Merit Award

2019 AIA Middle Tennessee Honor Award