BETHESDA, Md. — Marriott International is set to build the world’s tallest modular hotel in New York City.

The 168-room, 26-story AC Hotel New York NoMad, which will feature prefabricated and pre-furnished guestrooms, is expected to be “stacked” over a 90-day period this fall. The building will be topped with a modular roof and modular rooftop bar, while its more-customized public areas, such as the restaurant and lobby, are expected to be constructed using traditional methods.

“In North America, the construction process hasn’t changed significantly in 150 years and it’s ripe for innovation,” says Eric Jacobs, Chief Development Officer, North America, Select and Extended-Stay Brands, Marriott International. “The world’s tallest modular hotel in one of the world’s greatest destinations will act as a game-changing symbol to ignite even greater interest in modular among the real-estate and lending industries.”

The 360-foot-tall tower will represent a milestone for Marriott’s ongoing initiative to encourage hotel developers in North America to embrace modular for new-construction projects. The company began researching modular construction in 2014 and has found that prefabrication typically reduces construction timelines; curbs site waste and noise; and results in a higher-quality product produced with factory-level precision.

“This is the moment when modular construction takes centre stage,” says Danny Forster, a modular-building advocate whose firm, Danny Forster & Architecture, designed the AC Hotel New York NoMad. “We wanted to demonstrate that modular building can do more than just harness the efficiencies of the factory. It can produce a graceful and iconic tower. And it can do so at the rate of an entire floor a day.”

Since the launch of Marriott’s modular initiative, the company’s development partners in North America have opened 31 Marriott-brand hotels (all low-rise structures) that incorporate prefabricated guestrooms and/or bathrooms. The company has also launched modular versions of its prototypes for four of its higher-volume brands: Courtyard by Marriott, Fairfield by Marriott, SpringHill Suites by Marriott and TownePlace Suites by Marriott.

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