Renaissance Center
Renaissance Center | |
---|---|
Tishman Construction | |
Renovating team | |
Architect(s) | Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, Gensler, SmithGroup, Ghafari Associates |
Main contractor | Turner Construction |
Other information | |
Public transit access | Renaissance Center DDOT 3, 9 SMART 261, 461, 462, 805, 851 Transit Windsor Tunnel Bus |
Website | |
gmrencen | |
References | |
[1][2][3][4][5][6] |
Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center | |
---|---|
Hotel chain | Marriott International |
General information | |
Location | United States |
Address | 400 Renaissance Center Drive Detroit, Michigan |
Coordinates | 42°19′44″N 83°02′23″W / 42.3289°N 83.0397°W |
Opening | 1977 |
Owner | General Motors |
Management | Marriott Hotels & Resorts |
Height | 727 ft (222 m) |
Technical details | |
Floor count | 73 |
Floor area | Meeting space: 100,000 sq ft (9,300 m2) |
Other information | |
Number of rooms | 1,246 |
Number of suites | 52 |
Number of restaurants | Coach Insignia Forty-two Degrees North Volt |
Parking | Valet and self |
Website | |
www.marriott.com/dtwdt | |
[3][7][4] |
The Renaissance Center (also known as the GM Renaissance Center and nicknamed the RenCen) is a complex of seven connected skyscrapers in downtown Detroit, Michigan, United States. The Renaissance Center complex is on the Detroit International Riverfront and is owned and used by General Motors as its world headquarters. The central tower has been the tallest building in Michigan since its completion in 1977.
In 2004, General Motors completed a US$500 million renovation of the
In July 2015, the complex was re-branded as "The GMRENCEN." Its logo was modernized and "Reflecting a New Detroit" was introduced as the new tagline. A photo-journalistic advertising campaign launched to "shine a spotlight on the people in Detroit who make remarkable contributions" to the city.
Despite the name, the hotel portion is not affiliated with the Renaissance Hotels chain, also owned by Marriott.
History
The idea was first conceived by Henry Ford II, the Ford Motor Company Chairman of the time. In 1970, to bring his idea to life, Ford teamed up with other business leaders to form the Detroit Renaissance. This was a private non-profit development organization which Ford headed in order to stimulate building activity and revitalize the economy of Detroit.[14][15] Henry Ford II sold the concept of the RenCen to the City and community leaders. Detroit Mayor Roman Gribbs touted the project as a complete rebuilding from bridge to bridge, referring to the area between the Ambassador Bridge, that connects Detroit to Windsor, Ontario, and the MacArthur Bridge, which connects the city with Belle Isle Park.[14]
The Detroit Renaissance announced the first phase of construction in 1971, receiving primary financing from the
The city within a city arose. The first phase of Renaissance Center opened on July 1, 1976. For phase I, the facade of the first five towers was covered with 2,000,000 square feet (186,000 m2) of glass, and used about 400,000 cubic yards (310,000 m3) of concrete.[14] This did not include the additional glass used for the atriums.[8] It also cost $337 million to construct, employing 7,000 workers.[14] The heating and cooling systems for the buildings were housed in two-story concrete berms facing Jefferson Avenue.[16] Other phases that included residences, additional office and retail space were never constructed.
When the Renaissance Center opened, the
In 1977, managed by
On April 15, 1977, Henry Ford II and Detroit mayor Coleman Young unveiled a plaque commemorating the private investors whose funds made the project possible. Later that evening, 650 business and society leaders attended a benefit to celebrate the Renaissance Center's formal dedication. The money raised from the $300-per-couple tickets went to the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.
In 1980, Detroit hosted the Republican National Convention, during this event both presidential nominee Ronald Reagan and former President Gerald Ford stayed at the Renaissance Center.[18][19]
The "city within a city" concept was duplicated in the suburb of Southfield, when the Southfield Town Center office complex - with five inter-connected golden skyscrapers and an overall area of 2,200,000 square feet (200,000 m2) - was constructed from 1975 to 1989. In the ensuing years, the Renaissance Center would face competition from the growing suburban office market.[8]
In 1987, the elevated
In 1996,
Architects' initial design for the Renaissance Center focused on creating secure interior spaces, while its design later expanded and improved to connect with the exterior spaces and waterfront through a reconfigured interior, open glass entryways, and a winter garden.
In July 2010, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan announced plans to lease 435,245 square feet (40,435.6 m2) of Tower 500 and Tower 600 and relocate 3,000 of its employees from its building in Southfield, Michigan.
In January 2015, General Motors announced its intent to renovate much of the complex to make it more inviting as a destination for visitors to Detroit.[23] In 2018, the GM World showroom was renovated.
The Renaissance Center is owned by General Motors. The hotel in the central tower is now managed by the Marriott hotel chain and is called the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center. The 1,298-room hotel is one of the largest operated by Marriott. The rooftop restaurant (which previously had revolved) received a $10 million renovation and was operated by The Epicurean Groups's Coach Insignia (closed in 2017[24]). It served Coach wines, a product of the Fisher family whose legacy includes Fisher Body, a name which is part of GM history.[25]
The Renaissance Center's renovation provides for the prospect of continued development and restorations throughout the city. Architectural critics have touted the city's architecture as among North America's finest.[9][26]
In its first year of operation it generated over $1 billion in economic growth for the downtown.[8] Detroit Renaissance continued to interact with the city, by contributing to a variety of projects within the downtown area in the ensuing decades.
On April 15, 2024, GM announced its intention to move its headquarters from the Renaissance Center to the under-construction Hudson's Detroit.[27]
Location
The Renaissance Center is a riverfront property located along the Detroit River. Approximately one-mile north of the center are
Architecture
The centerpiece is the 73-story 727-foot (221.5 m) luxury hotel with 1,246 rooms and 52 suites (1298 total guest rooms). Its height is measured from its main Wintergarden entrance on Atwater Street which faces the International Riverfront where the complex measures 14 feet (4.3 m) taller. Entirely owned by General Motors, the complex has 5,552,000 square feet (515,800 m2) of space.[5][28] The main Renaissance Center complex rises from a 14-acre (5.7 ha) site.[28] The complex is designed in the modern architectural style with glass as a main material.
Famous for its
John Portman designed the five-building rosette with interior spaces.[9] In 1977, its central tower opened as the tallest hotel in the world.[10] It remains the tallest all hotel skyscraper in the Western Hemisphere.[10] The smaller cylinders on sides of all the towers house the elevators. The four surrounding 39-story office towers (100–400) each reach 522 feet (159 m) and have a total of 2,200,000 square feet (204,400 m2) of space.[13][28] Each 39-story tower has a base five-story podium structure with 165,000 square feet (15,300 m2) for retail space for a total of 660,000 square feet (61,000 m2).[13] A portion of the central atrium area houses GM World, a showcase for GM vehicles. Two 21-story towers (500–600), designed by Portman and constructed in 1981, reach 339 feet (103 m). GM gained control of Towers 500 and 600 in 2001.[13] Tower 500 has 307,300 square feet (28,550 m2) of office space and an additional 14,485 square feet (1,350 m2) of retail space.[30] Tower 600 has 304,200 square feet (28,260 m2) of office space and an additional 35,730 square feet (3,320 m2) of retail space.[31]
Towers 100 and 200 front Jefferson Avenue. Towers 300 and 400 are on the main Wintergarden/Atwater Street entrance facing the Riverfront. The GM Renaissance Conference Center is located on the second floor of tower 300.[13]
In December 2001, the General Motors unveiled the Wintergarden retail atrium. Designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, it rises 103 feet (31 m) tall at its highest point opening direct access to the International Riverfront. In addition, the atrium contains 150,000 square feet (14,000 m2) of retail space and 40,000 square feet (3,700 m2) of contiguous main floor exhibit space which was used by the media during Super Bowl XL.[13]
The design is consistent with the themes of Brutalist architecture, especially in the heavy massing of concrete on the lower floors, but the 2001 renovation has softened those features.
Redevelopment
The redevelopment project included the work of many different architects including Skidmore, Owings & Merrill of
The $500 million renovation of the Renaissance Center completed in 2003 has helped improve Detroit's economy.[11] Together, GM's renovation of the Renaissance Center and the Detroit Riverwalk exceeded $1 billion; the project constituted a substantial investment in downtown. More than 10,000 people (of whom 6,000 are GM employees) work in the complex.[28] Nearly 2,000 state workers now occupy GM's former office building, the restored Cadillac Place, in the historic New Center district.[20]
The Wintergarden added to the Renaissance Center faces the Riverfront and provides panoramic views of the Windsor skyline. The complex connects offices, the hotel, retail specialty shops, restaurants, a jazz club, and a movie theater. The theater has since closed and been converted to offices.[32] A pedestrian-friendly glass entryway has replaced the former concrete berms along Jefferson Avenue. The redevelopment provides the GM World display of vehicles, a restored hotel, a renovated rooftop restaurant, and the addition of GM's corporate logo to crown the top of the building. Construction of the lighted glass walkway facilitates ease of navigation encircling the interior mezzanine. Hines completed redevelopment of Towers 500 and 600 for GM in 2004.[13][30][31]
The Riverfront Promenade was dedicated on December 17, 2004, and helped to usher in a return to recreational uses along Detroit's International Riverfront. GM played a key role in the transformation of the east riverfront with a donation of $135 million to the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy for the development of a world class riverfront promenade planned at $559 million, which included $50 million from the Kresge foundation.[33] In 2011, the Detroit Wayne County Port Authority opened its new state of the art cruise ship dock and passenger terminal on Hart Plaza, adjacent to the Renaissance Center.[34][35] Port authority bonds financed another 1,500 space parking garage adjacent to the Renaissance Center. Further upriver, the Roberts Riverwalk Hotel faces the east riverfront. In addition to the gradual continuation of the riverfront promenade, other planned projects complementing the Renaissance Center continue along the International Riverfont which include development of luxury condominiums, a cruise ship passenger terminal, retail, and entertainment venues.[36]
In 2011, the Renaissance Center added colored LED lighting on the top of its towers (Towers 500 and 600 utilize traditional blue floodlights to illuminate their top floors). General Motors added a large illuminated LED corporate logo which also displays GM divisions. The animated logo and illuminated LED color bands around the towers can be used to support special events and may be seen from Comerica Park, home of the Detroit Tigers. The renovation of TCF Center convention and exhibit facility incorporates similar blue neon lighting along riverfront promenade.
Technical details and tenants
Building | Year | Stories | Height feet (m) |
Area sq. feet (m2) |
Principal tenant(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Central Tower | 1977 | 73 | 727 (221.5) | 1,812,000 (168,300) est. | |
Tower 100 (Southwest) | 1977 | 39 | 522 (159) | 550,000 (51,100) |
|
Tower 200 (Northwest) | 1977 | 39 | 522 (159) | 550,000 (51,100) |
|
Tower 300 (Northeast) | 1977 | 39 | 522 (159) | 550,000 (51,100) |
|
Tower 400 (Southeast) | 1977 | 39 | 522 (159) | 550,000 (51,100) |
|
Podium beneath Towers 100–400 |
1977 | 5 | 103 (31.39) | 660,000 (61,300) |
|
Tower 500
(River East Center) |
1981 | 21 | 339 (103) | 320,000 (29,700) |
|
Tower 600
(River East Center) |
1981 | 21 | 339 (103) | 340,000 (31,600) | |
Wintergarden & Restaurants | 2001 | 5 | 103 (31.39) | 150,000 (14,000) |
|
Wintergarden atrium | 2001 | 5 | 103 (31.39) | 40,000 (3,700) | Main entry and exhibit space |
Renaissance Center total | 5,552,000 (515,800) | Owner of complex: General Motors Property management firm: CBRE |
In June 2015 the Ren Cen 4 Theatres theater complex announced that it was closing.[40] With the end of Ren Cen 4, the city of Detroit has one first-run theater remaining, along with three independent theaters.[41]
In July 2007 portions of Asian Village, a development of restaurants in Suite 2653 in the GM Center (200 Renaissance Center) with Asian cuisine offered, opened. The center was designed to evoke street food stalls within East and Southeast Asia.[42]
In popular culture
The opening scenes of Thunder in the Skies, the seventh episode of the BBC science-history documentary
The Renaissance Center is featured in the film Action Jackson (1988).
In the film Collision Course starring Jay Leno and Pat Morita, the Renaissance Center is featured when Morita's character and Leno meet for the first time; Morita is considered a suspect and chased through the hotel (1989).
The 2008 crime thriller Killshot features an opening scene in which Mickey Rourke drives a blue Cadillac along Jefferson Avenue in Downtown Detroit where, in his role as hired hitman Armand Degas - nicknamed "Blackbird" - he enters the Marriott Hotel in the Renaissance Center to assassinate a mafia leader called "Papa", played by actor Hal Holbrook.
The film Bird on a Wire (starring Mel Gibson and Goldie Hawn) shot a chase scene inside the Renaissance Center (1990).
The opening scene of Renaissance Man shows Danny DeVito driving down Jefferson Avenue, late for a business meeting at the Renaissance Center, when he receives the phone call that fires him from his job. (1994).[43]
The Renaissance Center is featured in the film Grosse Pointe Blank (1997).
In the Steven Soderbergh film adaptation of Out of Sight, the main characters meet in the revolving restaurant atop the Renaissance Center. The scene was filmed on location (1998).[44]
The Renaissance Center was featured in the Kevin Costner and Joan Allen film The Upside of Anger. Costner's character plays a DJ for WRIF 101 FM, a real Detroit FM rock station, whose studio (in the film) is housed in the Renaissance Center (2004).
For the 2005 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, which was played at Comerica Park in Detroit, the center tower of the Renaissance Center was wrapped with an image of a large baseball smashing into the tower, with "4,612 FT" written below it to indicate the distance from home plate at Comerica Park. For Super Bowl XL, held at Detroit's Ford Field on February 5, 2006, a large National Football League logo was wrapped around the main tower just beneath the GM logo.
The Renaissance Center also hosted the major media for Super Bowl XL. GM offered the Wintergarden a venue for the annual Fash Bash, a fashion event and fundraiser coordinated by the Detroit Institute of Arts.[45]
The
It was used as a primary filming location for the film Real Steel, starring Hugh Jackman (2011).[46]
In a book by Adrian Humphreys titled The Weasel: A Double Life in the Mob, the former driver of Jimmy Hoffa and a mob associate Marvin "The Weasel" Elkind stated that Hoffa is buried in the foundations of the Renaissance Center (2011).[47][48]
The series finale of Motor City Masters was filmed in the GM World exhibit in the lower level of the Renaissance Center in 2014.[49]
The Renaissance Center was prominently featured in a scene from the movie Need for Speed (2014).
The alternate cover of the Eminem album Recovery features the Renaissance Center in the background.[50] His music video for "Lose Yourself" was filmed in Detroit, thus contains numerous shots of the city, including the building.[51] Eminem's greatest hits album Curtain Call 2 (2022) album cover also features the Renaissance Center.[citation needed]
Notable events
The Renaissance Center has been used as the media center for Super Bowl XL with the Wintergarden serving as the backdrop for ESPN's NFL Sunday Countdown episode on the day of the Super Bowl.
The Rockin On the Riverfront Concert Series was held at a temporary concert venue across the road from the Renaissance Center on the Detroit riverwalk from 2011 to 2019. The concert series featured acts like Pat Benatar, Rick Derringer, the Guess Who, Blue Öyster Cult, Randy Bachman, Foreigner, Dave Mason, Starship, REO Speedwagon, Ace Frehley, Eddie Money, Loverboy, 38 Special, Steppenwolf, Vince Neil, Jon Anderson, and many more.
The Renaissance Center has also served as the media center for the Detroit Grand Prix in 2023.
The anime convention Youmacon had annually been hosted at the Renaissance Center from 2010 through 2023 where the space had been used to host panels, tabletop gaming, concerts, and much more. On October 30, 2015, the rock band Crush 40 performed at the Renaissance Center as part of the Youmacon anime convention.
See also
- Architecture of metropolitan Detroit
- List of tallest buildings in Detroit
- List of tallest buildings in Michigan
- List of tallest buildings in the United States
- List of largest buildings in the world
References
- ^ "General Motors Renaissance Center". Emporis. Archived from the original on June 20, 2016.
- ^ Renaissance Center at Glass Steel and Stone (archived)
- ^ a b "Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center". SkyscraperPage.
- ^ a b Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center at Structurae
- ^ a b c GM Renaissance Center – Project Facts Archived August 23, 2009, at the Wayback Machine. Skidmore Ownings & Merrill. Retrieved on August 21, 2009.
- ^ "Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center Facts". CTBUH Skyscraper Database. Retrieved August 15, 2012.
- ^ "Marriott Renaissance Center". Emporis. Archived from the original on March 28, 2016.
- ^ ISBN 0-8143-1651-4.
- ^ ISBN 0-8143-3270-6.
- ^ a b c d e Official World's 100 Tallest High Rise Buildings (Hotel Use). Emporis.com. Retrieved on May 30, 2008.
- ^ a b c d Mercer, Tenisha (October 19, 2005). "GM's RenCen renovation attracts new business back". The Detroit News. Retrieved July 24, 2007.[dead link]
- ^ AIA Detroit Urban Priorities Committee, (January 10, 2006).Top 10 Detroit Interiors Model D Media. Retrieved on November 23, 2007.
- ^ a b c d e f g GM Renaissance Center.Hines. Retrieved on July 7, 2008.
- ^ a b c d e f g Detroit News Staff (September 29, 2001). How the Renaissance Center changed the landscape of Detroit Archived January 2, 2013, at archive.today Michigan History, The Detroit News. Retrieved on November 23, 2007.
- ^ ISBN 0-8143-3120-3.
- ^ "Renaissance Center: Jefferson Street Entrance (Detroit, MI) : Close view of the new glass football-shaped entry pavilion - Yale University Library". findit.library.yale.edu. Retrieved 2022-07-06.
- ^ "Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center". Emporis.com. Archived from the original on April 29, 2007. Retrieved September 19, 2009.
- ISBN 0-8143-2870-9.
- ISBN 978-0-937247-48-8.
- ^ a b New Center Council. Retrieved on May 16, 2009.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved November 15, 2019.
- ISBN 0-07-050536-5.
- ^ Welch, Sherri (January 16, 2016). "GM to launch large-scale renovation of Renaissance Center this summer". Crain's Detroit. Retrieved February 2, 2016.
- ^ a b c "New restaurant planned for top of RenCen". Crain's Detroit Business. January 21, 2018. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
- ^ Coach Insignia. The Epicurean Group. Retrieved on October 23, 2013.
- ^ Look Up: Top 10 Downtown Buildings, AIA Detroit.Model D media, Retrieved on July 4, 2010.
- ^ "GM to move headquarters from RenCen to Hudson's site". The Detroit News. Retrieved 2024-04-15.
- ^ a b c d e f Historical Perspective. GM Renaissance Center. Retrieved on July 7, 2008.
- ^ a b Selasky, Susan. "Dining returns to the top of Renaissance Center with Detroit's skyline view". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 2022-07-07.
- ^ a b c Tower 500 Archived January 9, 2016, at the Wayback Machine.Hines. Retrieved on August 22, 2009.
- ^ a b c Tower 600 Archived July 27, 2009, at the Wayback Machine.Hines. Retrieved on August 22, 2009.
- ^ Witsil, Frank (July 30, 2015). "After long run, Ren Cen 4 Theatre closing". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved November 19, 2017.
- ^ Detroit News Editorial (December 13, 2002). At Last, Sensible Dream for Detroit's Riverfront. Detroit News.
- ^ Detroit Wayne County Port Authority Breaks Ground on $11.25 Million Public Dock and Terminal. (June 21, 2004). PRNewswire. Retrieved on July 24, 2008.
- ^ Gallagher, John (July 17, 2011). "First Cruise Passengers Arrive at new Detroit Terminal". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved December 2, 2013.
- ^ The world is coming, see the change Archived June 13, 2008, at the Wayback Machine. City of Detroit Partnership. Retrieved on May 16, 2009.
- ^ "Renaissance Conference Center". Rencenmeetings.com. Archived from the original on February 8, 2014. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
- ^ "Location Archived January 6, 2010, at the Wayback Machine." Consulate-General of Japan, Detroit. Retrieved on February 1, 2009.
- Consulate-General of Canada in Detroit. Retrieved on February 1, 2009.
- ^ Witsil, Frank. "After long run, Ren Cen 4 Theatre closing" (Archive). Detroit Free Press. June 30, 2015. Retrieved on July 1, 2015.
- ^ Felton, Ryan. "Ren Cen 4 movie theater in downtown Detroit closes" (Archive). July 1, 2015. Retrieved on July 9, 2015.
- ^ Kavanaugh, Kelli B. "Portions of Asian Village open this week." (Archive) Model D Media. Tuesday July 17, 2007. Retrieved on October 1, 2013.
- ^ "Renaissance Man". IMDb.
- ^ Out of Sight Filming Locations IMDB
- ^ Hodges, Michael H. (September 8, 2003).Fox Theatre's rebirth ushered in city's renewal Archived December 5, 2012, at archive.today. Michigan History, The Detroit News. Retrieved on August 16, 2008.
- ^ "Real Steel Film Locations". The Worldwide Guide To Movie Locations. Retrieved January 6, 2016.
- ISBN 978-0470964514.
- ^ Hamilton, Brad (December 25, 2011). "Is this the final resting place of Jimmy Hoffa?". New York Post. Retrieved July 16, 2012.
- ^ Bendall, Izzi (2014). "TruTV in Detroit to Select 'America's Next Great Car Designer'". DBusiness Magazine. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
- ^ Nunez, Jessica (May 25, 2010). "Eminem reveals two 'Recovery' album covers, one features Renaissance Center". mlive.com. Retrieved June 5, 2019.
- ^ Rodriguez, Jason (April 2, 2009). "Eminem Video Throwback: 'Lose Yourself,' 2002". MTV.com. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
Further reading
- Desiderio, Francis (Spring 2009). "A Catalyst for Downtown: Detroit's Renaissance Center". Michigan Historical Review. 35 (1): 83–112. ISSN 0890-1686.
- Fisher, Dale (2003). Building Michigan: A Tribute to Michigan's Construction Industry. Grass Lake, MI: Eyry of the Eagle. ISBN 1-891143-24-7.
- Poremba, David Lee (2003). Detroit: A Motor City History. Making of America. Charleston, SC: Arcadia. ISBN 0-7385-2435-2.
- Thomas, June Manning (1997). Redevelopment and Race: Planning a Finer City in Postwar Detroit. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press.
- Woodford, Arthur M. (2001). This is Detroit 1701–2001. Detroit: Wayne State University Press. ISBN 0-8143-2914-4.
External links
- Official website
- Virtual visit of the Renaissance Center
- Building the Detroit Renaissance Center at Wayne State University Library is a digitized and searchable collection of photographs that documents the construction of the Renaissance Center.