Soaring ceilings, original granite walls, crystal chandeliers, and nearly a dozen original marble columns adorn the
Ballroom at McKay, a former bank lobby of the old Grand Rapids National Bank, now a majestic celebration space in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids.
The Ballroom at McKay, 10,500-square-feet of event space and commercial kitchen, is on the second floor of the 15-story
McKay Tower (146 Monroe Center Ave. NW). The ballroom opened last week with an invitation-only reception showcasing the cuisine of each of the ballroom's preferred caterers: The Catering Company, Applause Catering, Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, Martha's Vineyard, and The Gilmore Collection.
The ballroom accommodates 200 seated guests or 250 non-seated guests. Amenities include full catering services from any of the five caterers, bar services, tables, chairs, and linens. Windows overlook Rosa Parks Circle to the south, and the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel to the northwest. The former vault is a wine cooler; the original deposit slip table sits in the entryway.
The space has four wedding receptions booked, to-date.
"When we purchased the building and saw the space, it was so magnificent and so grand we felt strongly that we wanted to open it and reuse it," says Chaundra Derks, director of operations for Steadfast Property Holdings, which owns the building. "We hope that people will fall in love with it as much as we did. It's such a huge part of Grand Rapids from when it was built back in 1915."
Owen-Ames-Kimball handled the renovation, a fitting project for the company that constructed the original two-story structure in 1915, plus 12 more stories in 1925. The building is significant in that it was constructed in the heart of the city for Grand Rapids' first national financial institution.
Other renovations taking place at McKay Tower include the construction of four luxury apartments on the 15th floor that will be available for short- or long-term lease, the installation of four state-of-the-art Destination Dispatch elevators, and repair of the building's historic façade.
For more information or to book an appointment to see the ballroom facilities,
click here.
Source: Chaundra Derks, Steadfast Property Holdings; Craig Clark, Clark Communications
Writer: Deborah Johnson Wood, Development News Editor
Related Articles
Proposed Ballroom at McKay Tower could bring majestic celebration space to downtown Grand Rapids
A new ballroom, refurbished apartments, and now a facelift for Grand Rapids McKay Tower
New furnished apartments in Grand Rapids' McKay Tower offer luxury living downtown
Enjoy this story?
Sign up for free solutions-based reporting in your inbox each week.