The developers of the 33-story JW Marriott tower in downtown Orlando have assured city planners the project is moving forward, and now they’re seeking final appearance review approvals for the building and rooftop garden.
Albert Socol and Marlene Weiss, the husband-wife heads of Summa Development Group, received a major certificate of approval in 2023 for the tower that will house downtown’s first 5-star hotel, convention center and branded residences. One of the conditions at the time was that the rooftop garden and its glass wedding chapel come back for additional review before construction could start.
Since that time, SDG brought in a new Florida-based architecture firm: FSMY Architects and Planners. FSMY designed the award-winning Society Las Olas tower in Fort Lauderdale, which is adding a second tower. The tower appears largely unchanged from the original designed by DLR Group, the city’s appearance review official is conducting a minor review of the rooftop space.
The Socols declined to speak with GrowthSpotter but said they would make an announcement soon about the tower.
The rooftop garden concept first emerged in 2021 when the Orlando Museum of Art was negotiating with SDG to open a downtown branch in the tower. Museum Director Aaron De Groft came up with the idea to utilize the convention center roof as a lush, tropical garden space featuring works by world-famous glass artist Dale Chihuly. Those plans fell apart when the museum backed out of the project. De Groft was fired for his role in the debacle over fake Basquiat paintings. He passed away earlier this year.
The sculpture garden was reimagined as a wedding venue with an all-glass chapel with cobalt blue accents. The latest design replaces much of the tropical foliage with serene water gardens, ferns and palms. The zen-like chapel is clear glass, and the eastern elevation is shaded by an exoskeleton of beams with louvered panels. It’s surrounded by water, creating a visual “floating” effect.
The convention center lobby features a designated “wedding check-in” area, while the hotel and condos each have their own separate entrance and lobbies flanked by restaurants at the most prominent corners. The tower will have 218 guest rooms and 13 suites. The JW Marriott residences will comprise 16 floors, with 113 condos and 26 penthouse units.
The condo owners will have their own swimming pool separate from the hotel, as well as a private gym, library/card room, massage studio, cafe and sunset lounge on the 19th floor.
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