JW Marriott Marquis Miami, Miami

Best Multi-Family Residential/Hospitality

Photo courtesy Suffolk Construction Co.

The contractor built this structure while it was simultaneously constructing another high-rise next to it as part of a separate contract.

This signature structure, constructed by Suffolk Construction, features a JW Marriott Marquis—the first Marriott property to be named a Marquis—on levels one through 38, and a Hotel Beaux Arts on the top three floors.

The 42-story tower was built adjacent to and simultaneously with a separate, 47-story office tower project also being built by Suffolk.

The two towers are linked by an 18-story podium that houses parking, the hotel lobby and an amenities deck. The tower includes a 20,000-sq-ft column-less ballroom, basketball court, stainless-steel swimming pool and retail.

The logistics of the two separate contracts' connectedness was one of the biggest issues. In addition to the challenge of the close proximity, several subcontractors were working on both contracts.

“Coordination with the subcontractors was crucial, particularly because two major subcontractors needed the cranes to complete their work,” says Jerry Snell, senior superintendent with Suffolk. “The steel around the core from level 20 to the top had to be erected while the core concrete was still being placed several floors above.

“Incredible teamwork and to-the-minute crane scheduling enabled the two trades to harmoniously perform their work on schedule,” Snell adds.

Because space for tower cranes was limited, the team opted to use inside climbers. The technique allowed the project team to seal off areas of the building sooner than anticipated, expediting the start of work on one of the project's critical components, the five-star hotel's high-end finishes.

For Snell, this project included a little of everything: structural steel and pre-cast concrete, a climbing form system, cast-in-place concrete along with post-tensioned and conventional slabs, and both a curtain wall and a window-wall system.

“Everyone talks about teamwork, but it is rarely practiced throughout the life of a project,” says Donald Wolfe, vice president of Nichols Brosch Wurst Wolfe & Associates. “I can tell you the JW Marriott Marquis has truly been a collaborative effort between all the parties involved.”

Owner/Developer: MDM Group USA, Miami

Contractor: Suffolk Construction, West Palm Beach, Fla.

Architect: Nichols Brosch Wurst Wolfe & Associates, Coral Gables, Fla.

Civil Engineer: VSN Engineering, Miami

Structural Engineer: Ysrael A. Seinuk, New York

MEP Engineer: Hufsey-Nicoladies-Garcia-Suarez & Associates, Miami

Submitted by:

Suffolk Construction Co.

Scott Judy is Deputy Editor for Regions, and editor of ENR Southeast, one of Engineering News-Record's 10 Regional publications. His roughly 27 years as a construction journalist began with an 11-year stint covering Midwest construction projects. In 2000, Judy helped launch the publication now known as ENR Southeast. He often delves into controversial aspects of the construction industry such as bankruptcies and fatal accidents, and wishes he would never have to cover another accident but suspects that he might.