When the first wave of international visitors arrived in Atlanta for the 2026 FIFA World Cup™, they found a hotel that looked nothing like the property that stood there just months before. Continental Contractors led a full, multiphase transformation of the former W Atlanta Downtown into the JW Marriott Atlanta Downtown, not only working hard to meet brand standards, but also working against the clock to meet a demanding deadline.

A Race Against the Clock

With the World Cup on the horizon, there was no room for a leisurely renovation schedule, and no added time to lean on if things fell behind. Continental’s teams took on 237 guestrooms and suites and a full reimagining of the hotel’s public spaces, and rather than sequencing the two scopes back-to-back, ran them in parallel over a compressed six-month window: guestrooms from October 2025 to April 2026, public spaces from December 2025 to June 2026. That overlap meant two major renovation efforts moving through the same building at the same time, all while keeping the hotel operational for guests. Coordinating trades, material deliveries, and floor-by-floor access required both scopes to move in lockstep at once, like a team playing a tight, coordinated match.

Engineering the Centerpiece

The most technically demanding piece of the renovation was the hotel’s new 360-degree lobby bar. The design called for an engineered 22-foot gantry with suspended shelving and a custom metal mesh canopy suspended above the bar, all built to precise structural tolerances. Getting a suspended architectural feature of that scale to align perfectly while integrating new tile cladding and extensive millwork below it was one of the project’s signature construction challenges, and the payoff is a centerpiece worthy of a stadium-adjacent hotel that will soon host fans from around the globe.

That lobby itself required its own groundwork before any finishes could go in. Existing floor depressions throughout the space had to be infilled with concrete to create a seamless, level substrate, allowing engineered American red oak flooring to run uninterrupted through the lobby, restaurant, and lobby bar.

Craftsmanship in the Details

With the structural and sequencing challenges solved, the design details could shine. The reimagined lobby features custom millwork, integrated lighting, and Calacatta Macchia stone at the reception desks, with Silver Travertine carrying through the elevator lobby. At the bar, mosaic Calacatta Verde honed tile was installed in a herringbone pattern and paired with warm wood plank detailing and custom wood archways. The executive lounge received its own luxury treatment, with Duoplank European oak flooring and Alabama Rose marble setting the tone for the space.

Beyond the lobby, the renovation touched nearly every corner of the property: a redesigned Italian-inspired restaurant, an expanded market, refreshed meeting and ballroom spaces, an updated spa and fitness center, and a new rooftop pool bar. Exterior upgrades, including new flagpoles and a custom wood canopy beneath the porte cochère, tied the arrival experience together with the same level of craftsmanship found throughout the interior.

A Team Effort

In a tournament built on teamwork, it’s fitting that this project came down to the same thing. As Project Superintendent Richard Paez reflected:

Every project has its own challenges and opportunities, and this one was no different. What stood out most was how our superintendents continually rolled with the punches, stayed focused, and never lost sight of the end goal. Our subcontractors were exceptional partners throughout the process, and their commitment and teamwork played a major role in the project’s success. I’m grateful to have worked alongside such a dedicated group of professionals.”

Continental Contractors completed the transformation of the JW Marriott Atlanta Downtown in June 2026, delivering a downtown Atlanta landmark ready for kickoff.