Graham Jaehnig/Daily Mining Gazette Laurium Village Manager Ian Lewis, standing in front of a row of gold shovels, spoke at the Aspirus Keweenaw Hospital’s groundbreaking ceremony on Friday, discussing what the $31 million expansion means to the Keweenaw Peninsula.

LAURIUM – Aspirus Health celebrated the beginning of a $31.1 million expansion project at its Keweenaw Hospital in Laurium Friday with a groundbreaking ceremony.

Natalie Seaber, president of the Michigan Region of Aspirus Health spoke at the event, saying the expansion marks a major investment in the future of healthcare in Laurium.

“This expansion reinforces our commitment to meeting the evolving needs of the Keweenaw and surrounding area. This isn’t just about adding more space or square footage,” said Seaber. “It’s about answering the call for better access to better care here in the Keweenaw Peninsula.”

Seaber said Aspirus Health has listened to and heard the comments and needs of the people. “We’ve listened to the community,” she said, “and this project is a direct response. You told us, you’ve shared with us: ‘We want a better building, we want renovation, we want improved access and further services.’

Seaber said the expansion includes:

• 28,000 square-foot addition to the facility

• Comprehensive modernization of the hospital by relocating all services currently housed in the 1920s-era building to a new, state-of-the-art addition

• Redesign of inpatient rooms to better meet current and future healthcare needs

• Centrally located, state-of-the-Art imaging, lab and pharmacy services centrally localized to better serve the community

Seaber said the expansion is not just a step forward for the facility, but a major step forward for the community.

Ian Lewis said since he became Laurium Village Manager in 2023, the community has embarked on numerous redevelopment projects that have changed the heart and soul of the village, adding that the hospital’s commitment to the area has helped Laurium, and the Calumet-Laurium-Keweenaw area move forward.

“The hospital expansion will not only help the community to continue to grow, but it will also ensure that the Calumet, Laurium, Keweenaw area, as well as the entire Copper Country, will continue to have access to affordable, quality, excellent and convenient healthcare,” Lewis said, adding that the expansion also pointed to the financial status of the community.

“Economic expansion like this will only further help the community to grow and prosper into the future.”

The expansion will likely bring more employees to the hospital and the clinic, Lewis said, which will lead to more individuals and families residing in Laurium, Calumet, Calumet Township, and other surrounding areas throughout the Keweenaw Peninsula.

“The most exciting element of this expansion,” said Lewis, “is the direct impact it’s going to have on the job creation market here in Laurium. This project is going to ensure that people in our area continue to have access to quality jobs and continue to have the ability to help our Laurium community, and the neighboring communities around us, to progress.”

“For one, it’s really showing that we mean to be here; we’re purposeful. And being here in the U.P., expanding our services, we’re here for the long-term.”

Aspirus initially announced the expansion plans in May, saying in a release that the initiative – which will improve efficiency, access and the patient experience – underscores Aspirus’ dedication to addressing the growing health care needs in the Keweenaw and surrounding areas.

The general contractor for the project is Miron Construction Co. Inc. and the architect is HGA Architecture, Inc. The expected completion date is March, 2027.