THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS GRAND VALLEY CHAPTER INVITES THE PUBLIC TO A VIRTUAL TOUR OF THE NEW J.W. MARRIOT HOTEL CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION IN DOWNTOWN GRAND RAPIDS

CHAPTER HOSTS MICHAEL F. KAUFMAN, AIA, PRINCIPAL AND EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF LOHAN CAPRILE GOETTSCH ARCHITECTS AS PART OF REGULAR PROGRAM SERIES OCTOBER 27 IN GRAND RAPIDS

As part of its monthly program series to bring awareness to issues impacting the quality of life in western Michigan, The Grand Valley Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA Grand Valley) will present ”First Look: Grand Rapids J.W. Marriot Hotel“ on Thursday, October 21 at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel in Grand Rapids, with special guest speaker Michael F. Kaufman, AIA, Principal and Executive Vice President of Lohan, Caprile, Goettsch Architects.  Mr. Kaufman will also talk about his storied firm’s history and projects since its founding by famed modernist Architect, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe.  The program is being sponsored by Rockford Construction, Grainger Construction, and Virginia Tile.  The public is invited.

The official groundbreaking ceremonies for the new 24-story Marriot hotel in Grand Rapids, Michigan, took place October 6, 2005.  Designed by Lohan Caprile Goettsch Architects in association with BETA Design Group, the 340-room hotel is sited prominently along the east bank of the Grand River and will feature a 13,000-square foot ballroom, business suites, and meeting rooms, a restaurant, health club, and indoor pool.  Parking for 500 cars and rooftop helipad are also included.  The four-star property will be the only J.W. Marriot in the Midwest and one of only 34 worldwide.  The hotel’s opening is scheduled for the fall of 2007.

Lohan Caprile Goettsch (LCG) was founded in 1940 as the Office of Mies van der Rohe.  Since then the Firm’s national and international portfolio of work has grown to include the planning and design of large-scale commercial developments, corporate campuses, cultural and institutional buildings, federal and local government facilities, hotels and residential complexes, and public open space. LCG is committed to a contemporary approach to architecture, with building designs that are uniquely appropriate to the client, carefully detailed and timeless. 

Michael Kaufman received a Bachelor of Science degree in architecture from the Illinois Institute of Technology in 1977.  Since joining the firm, Mr. Kaufman has gained experience through many corporate, museum and hotel assignments in the United States and abroad.  Mr. Kaufman’s presentation will give a unique and exciting look at the new Grand Rapids J.W. Marriot hotel through the use of computer modeling and visualization.  He will also talk about his Lohan Caprilr Goettsch’s history and projects since its founding by famed modernist Architect, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe.

AIA Grand Valley’s ”First Look: Grand Rapids J.W. Marriot Hotel“ program will be held on Thursday, October 27, 2005 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Ballroom on the first floor of the Amway Grand Plaza, 187 Monroe Ave. NW, Grand Rapids.  The program’s events begin at 6:00 p.m. with a catered reception by Amway; the speaker’s program will begin at 7:00 p.m. Reservations for the evening are required.  The cost for attending the program is $10; the fee for students is $5. Parking in the south ramp is $10; valet parking is $14.  To make reservations for the program or for more information, contact Robin J. Snyder at (616) 456-9944 ext. 222 or rsnyder@tpta.com.