There was "caution" tape around a large hole in the floor, orange spray paint on the wall, bare pipes, and only a few windows had glass in them. But an ice sculpture that poured martinis, valet parking and tunes provided by members of the Utah Symphony hinted at what is in store for the abandoned hospital.

A recent party inside the old Veterans Administration Hospital in Salt Lake City's upper Avenues kicked off construction of The Meridien, a luxury development of condominiums being built within the shell of the old hospital.

The building's five floors and 80,000 square feet are being converted into 28 condominiums, ranging in price from $500,000 to $2.5 million. The Meridian will have a staffed concierge desk, gym and pool. Private elevators will drop residents off at their front doors.

Materials like granite will be used for countertops in the condos, said Richard Sheinberg, a managing partner of Pembroke Capitol Park, the company doing the construction.

Buyers will be able to customize many things. For example, a buyer has a choice between stone and hardwood floors, Sheinberg said. There are also several woods — cherry, maple and oak — to choose from.

"This is a magnificent location, and the architecture is outstanding," said Gary Felsher, a managing partner of Pembroke Capitol Park.

Construction on the luxury condos actually started in April, Sheinberg said.

Since April, they have ripped everything out of the interior of the building, including pipes, tiles, dividers, light fixtures and windows, Sheinberg said. Recently, work started on an underground parking garage.

While the interior is being completely redone, the exterior will be preserved, Felsher said. However, the exterior will be enhanced with balconies, he added.

Construction is scheduled to finish in January of 2007, Sheinberg said.

When the condos are finished, at least six of them will have people moving into them. That's how many have already been sold, Felsher said.

All six are in the million-dollar range, Sheinberg said.

When people move in, it will be the first time the building will have been regularly used since 1990. It closed its doors in 1990 as Primary Children's Hospital, said Bonnie Midget of Primary Children's Hospital media relations. It became Primary Children's in the mid-1960s. It was a veterans hospital for more than 30 years before that.

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E-mail: dhilton@desnews.com