Preconstruction Phase Planning
The Courtyard Marriott was built adjacent to the Prudential Center, a major regional sporting and entertainment arena. This mixed-used project was tailored to a compact site. The building is a seven-story, 112,000sf hotel set atop 15,000sf of retail space.
During the preconstruction phase, the most challenging aspects of the project were the technical and logistical challenges presented by the site. These issues required a steadfast approach to creative problem-solving and budget focus by the entire team.
One of the most challenging issues was the zero lot line orientation: the hotel will abut The Rock’s parking garage and an adjacent historic office building. An aggressive, economical approach to foundation solutions was demanded. Adjacent buildings, obstructions and quality of the fill were factored in before making any decisions. The customized solution provided a cost-effective way to fortify subsurface conditions, thus permitting conventional foundation construction above.
Coordinating with the City
The project also required close coordination with the city for:
- closing one lane of Broad Street for the duration of construction
- closing sidewalks and creating alternate and safe pedestrian passageways
- meeting a combined MBE/WBE requirement of 33%
- utilizing a subcontractor workforce with a minimum of 25% Newark residents
Overall, the Courtyard by Marriott in Newark’s downtown is a stellar example of how public-private partnerships can spur economic development efforts, and how shared goals, openness to new ideas and purposeful collaboration are the backbone of every successful project.
