The Peabody Orlando’s new 35-story Guest Tower “Tops Out”
Ceremony launches with unfurling of four-story American flag from 30th level in salute to Veterans Day
The concrete “skeleton” of The Peabody Orlando’s new 35-story guest tower has just been completed, so in keeping with longstanding construction industry tradition, a festive topping-out ceremony was held Wednesday morning, Nov. 11.
The event launched at 7:30 a.m. with a tribute to Veteran’s Day when a 20’ by 38’ American Flag was unfurled from the tower’s 30th level, down four stories of the building, by two veterans: Glenda Tobias, a Peabody Orlando employee, and JanieMarie Coleman, of Balfour Beatty Construction, which is building the $253 million tower and convention center expansion for Peabody Hotel Group.
The formal “topping out” ceremony, a tradition that migrated to America with European craftsmen, included prominent placement of an evergreen tree on the tower’s roof. Ceremonies started at 11:11 a.m. with a red-carpet March of the Peabody Ducks, The new 690,000 SF, 750-room/suite guest tower will nearly double the Peabody’s current room capacity. It is part of a $253 million expansion project that includes a 450,000 SF addition to the hotel’s existing convention space and renovation of 57,000 SF of existing public areas. Additions will also include a 15,000 SF upscale spa, a grotto-style pool complex, an English garden, a hiking trail, boutiques and a new restaurant building, plus 29 acres of site updating, all tied into the existing hotel.
The new convention center space is due for completion in July, 2010, with guest tower completion slated for September, 2010. The entire project, including renovations, is set for completion in January, 2011. Architect of Record for the Peabody expansion is SCA Design Group, Winter Park.
Throughout the construction process, The Peabody has remained open, with minimal disturbance to guests--or to the famed Peabody Ducks that make a celebrated march through the hotel lobby daily at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. sharp.
“That was quite a feat,” says Alan Villaverde, “especially considering that the new tower was constructed on one side of the existing 27-story guest tower at the same time that the convention center was being built on the other side. Balfour Beatty Construction did an outstanding job with scheduling, noise control and visual screening to keep construction activity from impacting the activities of our guests and the overall environment of the property.”