Celebrating steel construction of the new AC Marriott Hotel, from left to right, Donald Birch, executive VP/COO at Leggat McCall, Tony Economou, Worcester city councilor District One, Tim Murray, president and CEO of the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce, Mark Stebbins, chairman and CEO at PROCON and Partner XSS Hotels, Ann Tripp of Opus Investments, City Manager Edward Augustus, Jr., Candy Mero-Carlson, District Two city councilor, Leo Xarras, partner at XSS hotels, Christine Thomas, development partner at XSS Hotels.
Groundbreaking ceremony held
WORCESTER – On Nov. 2, state and local officials, business leaders and partners joined with XSS Hotels of Manchester, NH to celebrate the construction of the AC Hotel by Marriott. The hotel will be located at 125 Front St. in Worcester.
XSS Hotels collaborated with the Manchester based PROCON, who is the designer and construction manager for the 117,000-square-foot upscale hotel. Colwen Hotel Management of Portsmouth, NH provides comprehensive management services for the new hotel.
Attendees added their names and best wishes to the steel beam in celebration of the construction project that will be part of Worcester’s master plan for urban revitalization. The six-story AC hotel is situated in the heart of the downtown Worcester. It will offer access to local shops, restaurants, and entertainment. It is a short walk from Union Station offering train and bus service and is just two blocks from the DCU Convention Center.
In heart of CitySquare Project
Mayor Joseph M. Petty shared his sentiments about the new hotel in a prepared statement. “The CitySquare development and this hotel are at the heart of our plan for revitalizing our city’s core,” Petty said. “Even before the construction began we started seeing the positive impact with new restaurants and businesses opening around our downtown. I want to thank XSS hotels, and all of the partners for being part of our vibrant new vision for downtown and for Worcester as a whole.”
Plans call for 170 king suites and double-queen guest rooms to be located on floors two through six of the building. The European-inspired hotel will offer a robust package of guest-friendly amenities. The design concept includes a fitness center, a yoga room, a 24/7 market, conference center and meeting rooms and a business center. Expansive public space designs feature a bar/lounge area that flows to an outdoor terrace. Additionally, the 7,100-square-foot function room will include an in-house full-service restaurant with an outdoor patio seating area.
Worcester is undergoing a renaissance, and the new AC Hotel is part of a series of four high-profile projects that will comprise the CitySquare area. This includes the Grid District, a 365-apartment mixed-use development already under construction. Numerous street-level retailers and upscale restaurants are now setting up shop within the next two years. Together, a section of downtown Worcester will be transformed into a live-work-play hub, designed to attract young professionals.
City Manager Hails Hotel as ‘sign of vitality’ for downtown
City Manager Edward M. Augustus, Jr. was one of the morning’s speakers. He says, “This hotel is another fantastic sign of the vitality and momentum we are seeing downtown and throughout Worcester. This project brings us one step closer to fulfilling the vision of CitySquare. It’s another piece of the puzzle that will fit into place to help create the 18-hour downtown we’ve all been working towards.”
The Worcester AC Hotel is rising from the ashes of the demolished Galleria mall. It sits atop the city’s recently opened 586-car underground parking garage that will service the hotel and surrounding buildings. AC Hotel guests will have ample venues for shopping, dining, and entertainment at their fingertips.
The momentous beam signing finds definition in the words of Worcester District 2 City Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson. She says, “This is a great day for everyone and we are certainly a city on the move.”
Work began on the site in early October, and structural steel installations are currently in progress. The building will be to be weathertight by February 2017. The beam will be put in towards the end of the structural steel erection, with a project completion in late 2017.
