Detroit Rising: Skybridge Installation Marks Major Milestone at Huntington Place
DETROIT, MI – March 10th, 2026 Construction is in full swing at Huntington Place, and the energy along Detroit’s riverfront feels electric. Before sunrise on Saturday, January 10, the Huntington Place marketing team gathered with coffee in hand and hard hats on, watching history take shape as the first 75 foot long, 55,000 pound section of the new skybridge was lifted and set into position. As the sun rose behind the skyline, it framed the moment perfectly, steel and ambition meeting in midair, a visible sign of what’s next for the convention experience in Detroit.
That moment marked more than a construction milestone. It signaled a transformational investment in the future of the city’s meetings and hospitality industry.
The JW Marriott Detroit Water Square will bring a premier luxury brand to Detroit and deliver 557 guest rooms directly connected to Huntington Place, expanding downtown’s approximately 6,000 room inventory. At full buildout, the project represents nearly 600 connected rooms, a scale that is critical when competing for large, citywide conventions and events. The hotel is scheduled to open in early 2027, with the Skybridge Extension anticipated for completion in fall 2027, creating a climate controlled connection between the convention center and the JW Marriott.
Anyone in the meetings and events industry understands the significance of a hotel directly connected to a convention center. It is more than convenience, it is a competitive advantage. And even for those outside the industry, the appeal is obvious: seamless movement, elevated comfort, and a premium guest journey from arrival to event floor.
More than additional rooms, the hotel is designed to elevate the entire experience. Over 15,000 square feet will be dedicated to wellness, including a 24 hour state of the art fitness studio, a full service spa with multiple treatment and recovery amenities, wellness classes, and a 50 foot indoor lap pool, all created to help guests recharge and fully engage.
Dining will be equally distinctive, with four curated food and beverage experiences ranging from quick, energizing options to relaxed waterfront dining. Highlights include a specialty al fresco restaurant featuring the made from scratch Italian cuisine of Andiamo, offering guests an exceptional culinary experience paired with riverfront views.
The connection itself is more than a bridge, it is a destination. Spanning approximately 90 feet of terrace space, the elevated pathway will offer sweeping views of Detroit’s award winning riverfront before guiding guests toward a breathtaking grand staircase entrance sequence. The design invites pause, conversation, photography, and those spontaneous networking moments that define great events. It transforms a simple walk between buildings into part of the overall guest journey.
Beyond that, plans include a rooftop environment featuring several hundred square feet of garden and community focused space, an urban oasis where attendees can recharge, collaborate, or simply take in the skyline and river views between sessions. It adds breathing room to the convention experience, both literally and figuratively, giving guests more places to connect and explore.
“This project delivers a direct and lasting impact to the city of Detroit,” said Bryan Crowe, CEO of the Detroit Regional Convention Facility Authority, the governing agency of Huntington Place. “By physically connecting a world class hotel to Huntington Place, we’re strengthening our competitive position to attract larger, citywide conventions and events. That means more room nights, more restaurants filled, more local businesses supported, and more energy flowing through downtown. This isn’t just an amenity, it’s an economic development strategy.”
Douglas Trueblood, Executive Director of Revenue and Guest Experience, emphasized the long term value of the investment. “When guests have an experience where everything flows, their hotel, wellness, dining, views, and event space, they remember it. And when they remember it, they come back. They bring their families back. They bring their events back. That’s what this is really about: creating an experience so seamless and elevated that Detroit becomes the easy choice next time.”
Steel is rising, glass is going in, and Detroit’s next chapter in meetings and hospitality is taking shape, one beam at a time.
About Huntington Place
With 723,000 square feet of exhibit space, Huntington Place, Detroit’s convention center, boasts one of the largest contiguous exhibit floor spaces in North America and has the largest ballroom in Michigan with 40,000 square feet. It is a LEED Gold certified venue and has received numerous industry awards for excellence including the 2020 USGBC Leadership Award for Building Performance, making it the only convention center in the history of the award to receive it. It is the 16th largest convention center in the United States. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and huntingtonplacedetroit.com.
About Legends Global
Legends Global is the premier partner to the world's greatest live events, venues, and brands. We deliver a fully integrated solution of premium services, including feasibility & consulting, owner’s rep, sales, partnerships, venue management, hospitality, merchandise, and content & booking. Through our white-label approach, we keep our partners front and center while leveraging the power of our global network: over 450 venues, 20,000 events, and 165 million guests annually. To learn more, visit us at www.LegendsGlobal.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram.