JW Marriott Water Square To Transform Detroit’s Riverfront by 2027

A 25-story hotel rises on what was once Joe Louis Arena. Workers build 601 guest rooms that should open in 2027. The JW Marriott Detroit Water Square will become the first hotel in town to link with Huntington Place convention center via a third-floor skybridge.

Developers plan 44 suites. They're adding over 53,000 square feet for groups to meet and host events. Windows stretch from floor to ceiling, framing the Detroit River, two bridges, and the skyline.

Water Square will house The Veranda, which serves local food all day. There's also the 200-seat Andiamo Italian Chophouse. The Assembly will pour cocktails and serve small plates. Guests can sit inside or under cover outside. Andiamo Italian Chophouse opens in 2027, but its RenCen location shuts down in November.

A 10,500-square-foot spa awaits hotel visitors. Nine treatment rooms fill the space. Guests can use a sauna, cold plunge, and whirlpool. The fitness center stays open around the clock with free weights, cardio machines, and a 50-foot lap pool, plus classes taught by instructors.

The Riverwalk sits right outside. It offers 5.5 miles of paths for walking and biking.

This project expands downtown's ability to house visitors, something Visit Detroit thinks will draw bigger events. "Huntington Place is the 16th largest convention center in the country, with the capability and versatility to host those events," said Claude Molinari, president and CEO of Visit Detroit, in a statement to Hour Detroit.