Renaissance Center
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.
| Renaissance Center | |
|---|---|
GM Renaissance Center in May 2022 | |
| General information | |
| Type | Hotel Commercial offices Retail |
| Architectural style | Modern |
| Location | 100 Renaissance Center Detroit, Michigan United States |
| Coordinates | 42.3289°N 83.0397°W |
| Construction started | 1973 |
| Completed | 1977 1981 (towers 500–600) |
| Renovated | 2004 |
| Owner | General Motors |
| Management | CBRE Group |
| Height | |
| Antenna spire | 750 ft (230 m) |
| Roof | 727 ft (222 m) |
| Top floor | 697 ft (212 m) |
| Dimensions | |
| Diameter | 188 ft (57 m) (central tower) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 73 floors x 1 39 floors x 4 21 floors x 2 |
| Floor area | 5,552,000 sq ft (515,800 m2) |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect(s) | John Portman & Associates |
| Structural engineer | Morris E. Harrison & Associates |
| Main contractor | 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 | |
| Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center | |
|---|---|
| Hotel chain | Marriott International |
| General information | |
| Location | United States |
| Address | 400 Renaissance Center Drive Detroit, Michigan |
| Coordinates | 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 | |
John Portman was the principal architect for the original design. The first phase consisted of a five-tower rosette rising from a common base. Four 39-story office towers surround the 73-story hotel rising from a square podium which includes a shopping center, restaurants, brokers, and banks. The first phase officially opened in March 1977. Portman's design brought renewed attention to city architecture, since it resulted in construction of the world's tallest hotel at the time. Two additional 21-story office towers (known as Tower 500 and Tower 600) opened in 1981. This type of complex has been termed a city within a city.
In 2004, General Motors completed a US$500 million renovation of the Class-A center as its world headquarters, which it had purchased in 1996. The renovation included the addition of the five-story Wintergarden atrium, which provides access to the International Riverfront. Architects for the renovation included Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, Gensler, SmithGroup, and Ghafari Associates. Work continued in and around the complex until 2005. Renaissance Center totals 5,552,000 square feet (515,800 m2), making it one of the world's largest commercial complexes.
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. An unrelated Renaissance Hotel does exist in the suburb of Novi however.