Plaza Towers
Plaza Towers seen from the west side of the Grand River.
Former namesEastbank Waterfront Towers
General information
Typemixed-use
Location201 W. Fulton St.
Grand Rapids, Michigan
United States
Coordinates42°57′51″N 85°40′27″W / 42.9641°N 85.6741°W / 42.9641; -85.6741
Completed1991
Height
Roof345 ft (105 m)
Technical details
Floor count34
Floor area499,994 sq ft (46,451.0 m2)[1]
Design and construction
Architect(s)Griener Inc. (initial), A. Epstein and Sons (1995 renovation)
DeveloperEd Havlik - United Development Real Estate Corp.
Website
www.theplazagr.com

Plaza Towers is a mixed-use highrise building in Grand Rapids, Michigan. At 345 feet (105 m), it was the tallest building in the city until the completion of the River House Condominiums in 2008. The building contains apartments on floors 8–14, individually owned condominiums on floors 15–32, and a 214-room[2] Courtyard by Marriott hotel on floors 1–7.[3]

Building history

Construction and early issues

Construction began in 1988 with $60 million financed to Havlik by Amway and a Japanese bank.[4] The building opened in 1991 as Eastbank Waterfront Towers during a mini-boom in downtown development. However, it experienced significant structural, water leakage, and HVAC problems and had to be closed and completely re-skinned in 1995–97, just five years after opening.[4] Vertical cracks in exterior cement panels were the cause of the water leakage, which soaked and molded interior carpets. Corroded pipes caused issues with the cooling system and air ducts distributed foul smells. The $36 million 1995 renovation was financed by Amway, who gained majority ownership.[5] 250 residents and 160 building employees were displaced for two years during renovation work.[4] Prior to reopening, the Radisson hotel chain left the project and the name of the building was changed to Plaza Towers.[6] Eenhoorn LLC bought the building from Amway for $17.5 million in 2001. Amway's $31.5 million loss in the project was a “philanthropic gesture” for downtown development.[4] Many legal battles took place over the faulty construction, excessive initial project cost, and renovation displacements.

Evacuations for fire

Small fires in the building have led to evacuations in 1996, 2001, 2002, and 2010.[7] The 2010 evacuation was due to a 17th-floor fire causing fire and water damage, but no injuries.[4]

Evacuations for flood

Refacing the building to correct for rain-related water leakage from exterior cracks displaced 250 residents and 160 building employees two years.[4]

The building was again evacuated on April 20, 2013,[8] as the flooded Grand River filled the lower level mechanical space and flooded the basement parking garage with over 7 feet of water. A waterlogged basement generator sent black smoke through the entire building and approximately 80 vehicles[9] parked in the basement garage were flooded with up to 11 feet of water.[10] Structural concerns for a sanitary sewer line under the building (dating back to a time when Campau Ave. extended to Fulton, where the building now stands) caused building maintenance to keep the lowest level of the building flooded until the river receded to prevent erosion under the building and around the sewer line, which prolonged the evacuation.[10] The evacuation lasted until the building reopened on May 8, 2013.[11]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Plaza Towers". Skyscraper Center. CTBUH. Retrieved 2017-07-27.
  2. ↑ "Downtown Grand Rapids hotels upgrade rooms". The Grand Rapids Press. August 21, 2009. Retrieved 11 February 2012.
  3. ↑ "Plaza Towers". Emporis. Archived from the original on August 20, 2014. Retrieved 11 February 2012.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Ellison, Garret (April 24, 2013). "Flooding shut down at Plaza Towers the latest in long history of struggles at city skyscraper". The Grand Rapids Press. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
  5. ↑ Knape, Chris (May 12, 2009). "Amway's plan to bring office workers downtown never happened, but other downtown development did". The Grand Rapids Press. Retrieved 11 February 2012.
  6. ↑ Harger, Jim (May 17, 1996). "Reskinned complex to reopen as 'Plaza Towers'". The Grand Rapids Press. p. A6.
  7. ↑ Knape, Chris (October 30, 2010). "Downtown's Plaza Towers evacuated after small 17th floor fire". The Grand Rapids Press. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
  8. ↑ Finneran, Sally (April 20, 2013). "Gallery: Plaza Towers Apartments and Courtyard Marriott hotel evacuated". The Grand Rapids Press. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
  9. ↑ Harger, Jim (April 30, 2013). "Plaza Towers officials raise estimate of cars stranded in flooded parking garage". The Grand Rapids Press. Retrieved 30 April 2013.
  10. 1 2 Harger, Jim (April 24, 2013). "Flooded-out Plaza Towers residents still await word on their return home". The Grand Rapids Press. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
  11. ↑ Ellison, Garret (10 June 2014). "Hole in river wall exposed Plaza Towers to flood waters, lawsuit claims". MLive.
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