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Design at the Marquis
Collaborating closely with Marriott International, sculptor Rodney Carroll’s inspiration for the artwork originated directly from J.W. “Bill” Marriott, Jr. The result is “Birth of the American Flag,” an energetic firework at the heart of our downtown DC hotel that echoes Mr. Marriott’s dedication to creating a one-of-a-kind hotel in the nation’s capital and Marriott’s hometown. With the direction to build something uniquely inspired by Americana, Carroll designed, refined and constructed his concept with the sculpture rising directly out of the ground floor of the hotel. The lively piece is comprised of six major stainless-steel elements that collectively, appear as a firework, floating effortlessly through the lobby. Three perforated, arching steel beam structures support three-winged steel elements at the top of the sculpture.
Birth of the American Flag
Natural light from the atrium highlights the sculpture during the day and in the evening, “Birth of the American Flag” is lit from both below and above and is accompanied by two smaller sculptures in the hotel lobby and two large free-standing wall-art pieces.
Threads That Bond
“Threads That Bond” is composed of several thin, cylindrical metal structures representing the threads that bond people together. The sculpture floats over a moving water feature, reflecting the passing of time. “Threads That Bond” is composed of stainless steel, copper-nickel and is illuminated from below.
Stars
The “Stars” sculpture is composed of three vertical, perforated wave-like elements, which are romantically reflected in the live water feature that sits upon. When viewed from above, the structure appears to be a star at its top.
America
The “America” bronze wall was made with multiple copper-nickel panels that are meant to represent the countryside and serves as the backdrop for the lobby and its sculptures, wrapping around the feature staircase connecting the mezzanine and ground floor levels.
Flag
“Flag” is the stainless-steel wall that serves as a formal separation between the lobby dining area and the main entrance. It was designed to represents a large flag gracefully bending in the wind.
Peak Bloom
When gazing upon the lobby from the mezzanine level, guests will notice the black outlines on the white marble flooring; a nod to the city’s beloved cherry blossoms that adorn the Tidal Basin each spring.
Continue Your Exploration of Art in Washington, DC
Beyond the lobby of our downtown DC hotel, an adventure in art awaits! Washington, DC is home to the collection of Smithsonian museums that are all free to the public and located throughout the city. Open since 1962 with the mission to display portraits of those that have made significant contributions to the United States, The National Portrait Gallery is less than a mile from our convention center hotel. Other museums within the Smithsonian include the Air and Space Museum, the National Museum of African American History and Culture and the Hirshhorn, just to name a few. Visitors can also enjoy the International Spy Museum, the Phillips Collection and the historic Ford’s Theatre.
Sit & Stay a While
