More than once, I have caught students stopping and staring at the demolition of the old Marquette General Hospital. It was quite the spectacle. Behemoth claws raked the glass skin of the building, peeling it back to collapse the floors one by one—eventually piling up the metal bones of the structure before clearing it all away to make room for something new.

In the spring of 2023, the Veridea Group, after being selected to redevelop the property by the NMU Foundation’s Board of Trustees in consultation with the City of Marquette, started the demolition of the site.

Yet, as I watched the destruction myself, all I could think about was how, just over 20 years ago, I entered the world in the very building that was now being removed from it. Many other lives have begun and ended in that hospital since its opening in 1973, yet I do not oppose its destruction.

I believe the space could be better utilized, especially given the success of UP Health System. However, the ongoing back and forth between NMU and the Veridea Group has left me and other students concerned.

Once the demolition is completed, full ownership will be transferred to the Veridea Group. I hope they utilize the space for real estate or other commercial spaces. The lot’s close proximity to campus, being right across the street from the Northern Center, makes it ideal for student apartments or other businesses that cater to students.

I, and many others across Marquette County, have a deep connection with the old Marquette General Hospital. I sure would be happy to see the space utilized for other important needs for both the community of Marquette and the NMU campus, and I am sure I am not the only one who feels that way.