As one of the biggest hotel brands in the world, Marriott International needed a headquarters to match the scale of its reputation and place in the hospitality industry. The Marriott International Headquarters was built in 1979 in Bethesda, Maryland. The 74,322 m2 (800,000 ft2) office building provides workspace for 3,000 employees daily. The lobby of this building was somewhat insignificant, small, and unattractive and needed an upgrade that would make the lobby more spacious, and add character and an inviting atmosphere where employees, designers, engineers, and potential business partners pass through daily.