Quite the view: First look of skyline from new Potawatomi Hotel

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- The new Potawatomi Hotel is nearing completion and FOX6 News was granted a tour of the site on Thursday, April 24th to see just how far the hotel has come.

The structure is set, 85 percent of the work is done, but there's still so much to do.

"Tile, plumbing, HVAC work, concrete. You name it, we`re doing it today," said Tadd Hilgendorf, on-site safety manager.

Hilgendorf says after more than 500,000 hours of construction, the end is in sight.

"It's down to the finishes, it's wrapping up the paint, it's getting the carpet done, it's preparation for the theming elements that'll be hanging down in the lobby," said Hilgendorf.

Looking around the lobby, it's easy to see visions of the finished product start coming together.

18 stories above, workers add color to a floor that will house both regular rooms and suites. Inside one of the suites, there's a unique view of downtown from the Menonomee Valley.

"Not a lot of people have been able to see that view before, and once we open this up to the public, it's gonna be a great experience," said Kaelyn Cervero, sales and catering manager.

Potawatomi Hotel rendering (April 2013)

The hotel will also feature more than 10,000 feet of meeting space, and Potawatomi has already begun to take reservations for those rooms.

"We've got weddings, meetings, conventions...all sorts of different folks coming in," said Cervero.

Reservations are filling up and the hotel has booked dates as for out as 2018.

From carpeting to wallpaper, workers are starting to put the finishing touches on a $150 million dollar development.

"It's extremely rewarding. I've been here since August of '12, day one, and seeing it go up, every day something different, it's been extremely rewarding," said Hilgendorf.

Potawatomi hasn't set an opening day for the hotel, but their goal is for a grand opening some time this fall.