The big news in downtown Jackson (MS) Thursday is that the old Mississippi Valley Title building on West Street was brought down by demolition workers who are making way for the new nine-story, $53 million Westin Hotel.

Here are a few pictures of what’s left of the Valley Title building, along with other workers prepping for the start of construction.

Neel-Schaffer is providing engineering design and project management services for the new hotel.

A groundbreaking ceremony was held a month ago. The four-star, 203-room hotel will include 12,000 square feet of meeting space. The project is coordinated with Capitol Hotel Associates, Elness Swenson Graham Architects, and Brasfield & Gorrie (project contractor) for demolition of existing buildings and infrastructure, and the construction and improvements related to the hotel.