Wednesday, November 6, 2013

1,175 Key Convention Center Hotel Tops Off

Lots of construction near the Convention Center.
The long awaited Washington Convention Center Hotel is moving right along. The hotel, now known as the Washington Marriott Marquis, is located at 901 Massachusetts Ave NW. The hotel just topped out at 14 habitable floors and is slated to open on May 1, 2014. 

At 148.5 feet tall, it isn't the tallest modern building in DC (doesn't even crack the top 20), but its 14 above ground floors ties it in 2nd place with a few others. The Renaissance Washington Hotel has 15 floors.

One of the developers recently noted that at 130 feet below ground, the excavation depth for the Marquis nearly equaled the above ground height, which really is extraordinary for a building of this size. The below ground floors will contain meeting spaces, parking decks, and an underground walkway to the Convention Center. When finished, the Marquis will have 1,175 guest rooms.

There is a special job training program for this project happening right now: Washington Marriott Marquis Jobs Training Program. It's for DC residents only, and is free. Participants are not guaranteed a job at the hotel upon completion, but it looks like the training goes a long way towards that goal.

The front of the hotel on Massachusetts Ave NW
The back of the hotel at corner of 9th and L Streets NW. Above ground floors are labeled.