MARQUETTE - Another opportunity for lodging in the Upper Peninsula's largest city is on the way, in the form of a new 80,000 square-foot Staybridge Suites extended-stay hotel.

Located at 855 W. Washington Street, each of the four-story facility's 105 units will offer "the necessary amenities to make a traveler feel at home" says real estate developer Veridea Group, including a full kitchen. The facility will also offer two levels of underground parking, as well as a library, expanded exercise facilities, outdoor sports court, spa, laundry, and meeting spaces.

Work began on the project in March 2015, and is expected to wrap up later this summer. Miron Construction is acting as the project's construction manager.

"We're doing very well, a lot of talented people out here," said Miron Project Supt. Jerry Welhouse. "We saw many of these same people in the workforce that did Jamrich Hall at Northern Michigan University, so that familiarity is a big advantage. They care about what they're doing."

Veridea said its plans for the site include construction of an access to the adjacent city bike path, creating an easy pathway for travelers to stroll or pedal to Marquette’s downtown and lakeshore areas.

Welhouse said there are currently 50-60 Hardhats on the project, mostly putting up drywall and performing rough-in mechanical work. The building is being framed nearly entirely with wood. A two-story fireplace will be one of the building's signature features inside. Outside, the building's fascia will include metal, split-faced block, brick and Renaissance Stone.

The hotel is part of a multi-phase Veridas project being built on a three-acre plot of land that was the former site of the Bunny Bread plant. Called Liberty Way, the development includes the mBank Building, which opened in December 2013 and houses the namesake's regional headquarters. Structural steel is also going up at the site on Building III, the new headquarters of the Upper Peninsula Health Plan.

And going up adjacent to the Staybridge Suites hotel along Washington Street in Marquette is a significant, related project: the new headquarters for the Upper Peninsula Health Plan. The players are pretty much the same: Veridea Group is developing the project, and Miron Construction is the project manager. The two-story building will be connected to the hotel via the underground parking deck.

The Upper Peninsula Health Plan will be the sole tenant of the 28,000 square-foot building, at Washington Street and Lincoln Avenue.

ATOP WHAT WILL BE the Staybridge Suites hotel in Marquette are Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Local 2 masons Duane Nettel, Ritchie Marcotte and Steve Ekdahl. They’re employed by Boettcher Masonry. Photos by Jack Deo

PLUMBERS Norm Haataja and Kelly Robinson of Plumbers and Pipe Fitters Local 111 work at the Staybridge Suites project. They’re employed by Dressler Mechanical.

A RENDERING OF THE 105-UNIT, 80,000-square-foot Staybridge Suites hotel now under construction by Miron Construction, their subcontractors and the building trades.