GRAND RAPIDS - The city's skyline can already boast the addition of the new 24-story, $120 million J.W. Marriott Hotel - even though it won't be completed until this fall.

The new hotel reached its final height of 256 feet in January, filling in another place in the city's downtown that is undergoing a nice construction boom. The design for the 340-room hotel was unveiled in January 2005, complete with one of the largest ballrooms in the region - able to seat 1,000 - plus two restaurants, a fitness center, a pool, a hot tub and whirlpool.

The new hotel is located next to the Grand River near the corner of Pearl Street and Campeau Ave. An adjacent 700-space parking ramp will serve the hotel.

"We've got a great crew of guys here, and our portion of the job will be on schedule or ahead of schedule," said Joe Bryant, plumbing foreman for Andy J. Egan and Plumbers, Pipe Fitters and Service Trades Local 174. He said the project's crew has included 53 plumbers and fitters.

The construction of the hotel, which is primarily being performed by nonunion trades, was initiated by Alticor, and is being built in a joint venture between Rockford Construction Company, Inc. of Grand Rapids, and Pepper Construction Group of Chicago. "We worked hard to design a hotel that is unique and appropriate for Grand Rapids and the riverfront site," said John Arzarian Jr. of Lohan Caprile Goettsch, the project's associate principal and senior designer.

Alticor chairman Steve Van Andel said the design of the new Marriott "is the latest chapter in the continuing revitalization of downtown Grand Rapids. We are introducing a modern and sophisticated structure that will grace our skyline for decades to come."

Hotel construction began in 2005 with the demolition of the former Israels Designs for Living furniture building and site work. Vertical tower construction began following four months of installing micropiles and heavy foundation work to support the structure. During the peak of construction, the team raised the hotel at an average of one floor per five-day week.

"There remains much work to be done to bring this project across the finish line," said Mike VanGessel, president of Rockford Construction and principal in charge of the JW Marriott project. "But the topping off of the hotel marks a significant milestone for us and for the city, as the Grand Rapids skyline is now forever changed."

According to Emporis, the Marriott hotel is the city's fourth tallest building. The 34-story Plaza Towers, completed in 1991, is the tallest structure.

RE-BAR ATOP a parking deck that will serve the new Marriott (looming behind him) is installed by Harold Richards of Iron Workers Local 340, working for Granger Construction.

PLUMBERS Joe Bryant (l) and Joe Turner of Plumbers, Pipe Fitters and Service Trades Local 174 stand in an area of the new Grand Rapids Marriott where they will be placing a considerable amount of plumbing: a first-floor bar area that faces the Grand River.