FIRST LOOK: Exclusive look inside The Marriott Marquis

Spanning a city block and claiming the title of Washington DC's largest hotel, the Washington DC Marriott Marquis is almost at its topping-off. The hotel, that will have 1,175 rooms and 46 suites is on track for its planned May 2014 opening. As the Washington DC Convention Center's hotel, The Marriott Marquis will provide an additional 53,000 square feet of meeting rooms, and 3 ballrooms, the 30,000 sq.ft. Grand Ballroom and two, 10,800 sq.ft. Junior Ballrooms. The hotel has 22 floors, 7 below ground 15 above, and will provide over 800 new jobs for DC residents, it was previously announced that Goodwill Industries will train potential employees.

During a recent community meeting, I was invited to view inside the "job-site" and photograph the progress from a different prospective, inside looking out. I try very hard in this blog not to judge or express opinions, but the first thing that came to mind (Hey Dr. Who fans) "its bigger on the inside".

So below you will find the photo's, most with comment and local geographic reference. (If you click on the photographs you can get a larger image) This article is pretty much photo-centric, with most content having been published before, although some is new. Also, please realize that some locations are still under construction and not really safe for folks like myself to visit yet, but, happily, I have been invited back, so anything that is missing this time around should be covered in future blogs.
My wish is that, as readers, you get an idea of size and scope from this first viewing, and like me, get a little excited about the future for the City and for Shaw.

 Mass Ave. NW. View from street facing 10th Street. Mass Ave. will get its street lanes back, a driveway will handle visitor traffic, and parking access will not require vehicles to re-enter Mass Ave. traffic

Still a work-in-progress, the old Union building will soon have a new interior

Almost an optical illusion, no mirrors to infinity here. Guest Rooms are accessed from a central corridor, in this instance rooms on the right overlook Mass Avenue, rooms on the left overlook the lobby.

Standard Rooms, these face Mass Ave, this is actually 2 guest rooms, the framing of the joining walls is yet to be done.

Most framing is completed on the lower floors, you can see the layout of the bathrooms etc. and electrical, plumbing and air are all ready in place

My first view inside from the ground floor lobby. The first thing that I noticed is that the guest rooms have windows overlooking the lobby area, and that there are no walkways/corridors overlooking the lobby.

The multi-story lobby sculpture will eventually sit here. The sculpture will be delivered in sections and re-assembled.

Facing L Street at 9th. Both 9th &  L Street's are now at their final level

Facing 10th Street, this gives a good perspective of the internal size of the hotel and the lobby layout. The sculpture, that rises several story's will be in the foreground of this photograph, the main entrance to the left

A new prospective of Quincy Park Condo's

From 7 floors up, 9th Street, O Street Market cranes in the background, The Whitman Condo's on the left.

On Mass Ave side (right) construction continues upward, facing the corner of 9th St and Mt Vernon Sq / K St

From the Mass Ave NW at 10th outcrop! 1010 Mass to the left.

Had to include this - Eye to Eye with the crane operator (on L Street) This crane will be dismantled the weekend of June 1st, the first sign that construction will soon be all interior.

At the (current) highest point, Capitol Dome, City Center, Old Post Office.

Don't look down - work will begin shortly to install a glass dome that will, for better description, be the roof and cover the entire lobby area. The dome will be approximately 18 feet high

4 levels Underground - The Grand Ballroom

Grand Ballroom, it is so difficult to show the expanse (30,000 sq ft) of this facility, I used 3 photos. In order above is right, this is center, below is left

Grand Ballroom

5 levels down - Junior Ballroom #1, - 10,800 Sq ft

Junior Ballroom #2  - 10,800 Sq ft.

Least attractive, but most interesting. Slurry Walls (left is Convention Center / right is Hotel) this area will eventually be the loading dock for the hotel, accessed from the Convention Center. There is also an additional pedestrian connection underground (9th St), between the two buildings. These areas are under construction and quite dangerous (to visitors)

Finally, I would like extend my gratitude to the project developers Capstone Development, and to Hensel Phelps Construction for the opportunity to view the job-site and meet the "crew". Every single person I encountered on prepping this article, from management to construction workers made sure that I was welcome and informed about the project, kudos to both companies for putting together such stellar crews. Special thanks to James Harper, Community Development Advisor, with Hensel Phelps, for walking me through the site, on a really hot Washington day, and feeding me with so much information. And to Norman Jenkins, President of Capstone Development, for the invitation and organizing the tour. A class act, in an exceptional and classy DC company.