Grand Rapids, Michigan

===Cityscape===
{{See also|List of tallest buildings in Grand Rapids|List of nature centers in Michigan}}

The city skyline shows the [[Amway Grand Plaza Hotel]], formerly the Pantlind, which reopened in 1981 after extensive renovations by Marvin DeWinter & Associates. This work included the addition of a 29–story glass tower offering panoramic views of the city, river and surrounding area. The Pantlind Hotel's original architects, Warren & Wetmore, were inspired by the work of the Scottish neoclassical architect [[Robert Adam]]. In its prime, the hotel was rated as one of the top ten hotels in the US. The hotel features several restaurants well known in Grand Rapids. The hotel is owned by Amway Hotel Collection, a subsidiary of Amway's holding company [[Alticor]].<ref>{{cite web |first = Richard L. |last = Johnson |url = http://www.hotel-online.com/News/PR2004_4th/Oct04_Alticor.html |title = Alticor, Which Owns and Operates the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, Planning a 300–400 Room Marriott in Downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan / October 2004 |website = Hotel-online.com |date = October 5, 2004 |access-date = August 21, 2017 |archive-date = April 16, 2016 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160416083949/http://www.hotel-online.com/News/PR2004_4th/Oct04_Alticor.html |url-status = live }}</ref>

{{wide image|Grand Rapids, MI skyline 2021.jpg|900px|align-cap=center|The skyline of Grand Rapids as seen in August 2021}}

Other prominent large buildings include the [[JW Marriott Grand Rapids]], the first JW Marriott Hotel in the Midwest. It is themed from cityscapes of Grand Rapids' sister cities: Omihachiman, Japan; Bielsko-Biała, Poland; Perugia, Italy; Ga District, Ghana; and Zapopan, Mexico. When the hotel opened, Amway Hotel corporation hired photographer Dan Watts to travel to each of the sister cities and photograph them for the property. Each floor of the hotel features photography from one of the cities, which is unique to that floor. Cityscapes of these five cities are alternated in order, up the 23 floors.

The city's tallest building is the [[River House Condominiums]], a 34-story (123.8 m) condominium tower completed in 2008 that stands as the tallest all-residential building in the state of Michigan.<ref name="emporiscorp">{{cite web |url = https://www.serviceprofessor.com/2017/11/tallest-buildings-in-grand-rapids/ |title = Grand Rapids High-rise Buildings |publisher = Service Professor Grand Rapids |access-date = November 20, 2017 |archive-date = September 17, 2023 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230917135841/https://www.serviceprofessor.com/ |url-status = live }}</ref>

[[File:Barn_at_Blandford_Nature_Center_in_Springtime.jpg|right|thumb|A barn belonging to the Blandford School at the Blandford Nature Center in early springtime]]

Grand Rapids is also home to two large urban nature centers. The Calvin Ecosystem Preserve and Native Gardens, operated by [[Calvin University]] on the city's southeast side, is {{convert|104|acre|ha}}. It is home to over {{convert|44|acre|ha}} of public-access nature trails, a {{convert|60|acre|ha|adj=on}}, restricted-access wildlife preserve, as well as the Bunker Interpretive Center, which hosts university classes and educational programs for the wider community.<ref>{{cite web |title = About Us: Calvin Ecosystem Preserve and Native Gardens |url = https://calvin.edu/ecosystem-preserve/about/ |publisher = Calvin University |access-date = September 9, 2019 |archive-date = December 28, 2019 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20191228225430/https://calvin.edu/ecosystem-preserve/about/ |url-status = live }}</ref> The Blandford Nature Center, located on the city's northwest side, opened in 1968 and contains extensive nature trails, an animal hospital, and a "heritage village" made up of several well-preserved 19th-century buildings, including a log cabin, schoolhouse, and barn.<ref>{{cite web |title = About Blandford |url = https://blandfordnaturecenter.org/about/ |publisher = Blandford Nature Center |access-date = September 9, 2019 |archive-date = December 31, 2019 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20191231063820/https://blandfordnaturecenter.org/about/ |url-status = live }}</ref> The nature center is also home to Blandford School, a highly selective environmental education program for sixth graders from the metropolitan region, which is run by [[Grand Rapids Public Schools]] and serves as a feeder school for [[City High-Middle School]]. At {{convert|264|acre|ha}}, Blandford is one of the largest urban nature centers in the United States.<ref>{{cite news |last1 = Smith |first1 = Sydney |title = Blandford Nature Center Begins Demolition as Part of $6.6M Highlands Restoration Project |url = https://mibiz.com/sections/real-estate-development/blandford-nature-center-begins-demolition-as-part-of-6-6m-highlands-restoration-project?highlight=WyJzeWRuZXkiLCJzbWl0aCIsInNtaXRoJ3MiLCJzeWRuZXkgc21pdGgiXQ== |access-date = September 9, 2019 |work = MiBiz |date = September 8, 2019 |archive-date = December 28, 2019 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20191228072935/https://mibiz.com/sections/real-estate-development/blandford-nature-center-begins-demolition-as-part-of-6-6m-highlands-restoration-project?highlight=WyJzeWRuZXkiLCJzbWl0aCIsInNtaXRoJ3MiLCJzeWRuZXkgc21pdGgiXQ== |url-status = live }}</ref>