Renaissance Center

Renaissance Center
GM Renaissance Center in May 2022
Map
General information
TypeHotel
Commercial offices
Retail
Architectural styleModern
Location100 Renaissance Center
Detroit, Michigan
United States
Coordinates42°19′44″N 83°02′23″W / 42.3289°N 83.0397°W / 42.3289; -83.0397
Construction started1973
Completed1977 (1977)
1981 (towers 500–600)
Renovated2004
OwnerGeneral Motors
ManagementCBRE Group
Height
Antenna spire750 ft (230 m)
Roof727 ft (222 m)
Top floor697 ft (212 m)
Dimensions
Diameter188 ft (57 m) (central tower)
Technical details
Floor count73 floors x 1
39 floors x 4
21 floors x 2
Floor area5,552,000 sq ft (515,800 m2)
Design and construction
Architect(s)John Portman & Associates
Structural engineerMorris E. Harrison & Associates
Main contractorTishman Construction
Renovating team
Architect(s)Skidmore, Owings & Merrill,
Gensler,
SmithGroup,
Ghafari Associates
Main contractorTurner Construction
Other information
Public transit access Renaissance Center
Bus transport DDOT 3, 9
Bus transport SMART 261, 461, 462, 805, 851
Bus transport Transit Windsor Tunnel Bus
Website
gmrencen.com
References
[1][2][3][4][5][6]
Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center
Map
Hotel chainMarriott International
General information
LocationUnited States
Address400 Renaissance Center Drive
Detroit, Michigan
Coordinates42°19′44″N 83°02′23″W / 42.3289°N 83.0397°W / 42.3289; -83.0397
Opening1977
OwnerGeneral Motors
ManagementMarriott Hotels & Resorts
Height727 ft (222 m)
Technical details
Floor count73
Floor areaMeeting space: 100,000 sq ft (9,300 m2)
Other information
Number of rooms1,246
Number of suites52
Number of restaurantsCoach Insignia
Forty-two Degrees North
Volt
ParkingValet 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.

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.[8][9] The first phase officially opened in March 1977. Portman's design brought renewed attention to city architecture,[9] since it resulted in construction of the world's tallest hotel at the time.[10] 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.[11] The renovation included the addition of the five-story Wintergarden atrium, which provides access to the International Riverfront.[12] 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.[5][13]

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.[14]

  1. ^ "General Motors Renaissance Center". Emporis. Archived from the original on June 20, 2016.
  2. ^ Renaissance Center at Glass Steel and Stone (archived)
  3. ^ a b "Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center". SkyscraperPage.
  4. ^ a b Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center at Structurae
  5. ^ a b GM Renaissance Center – Project Facts Archived August 23, 2009, at the Wayback Machine. Skidmore Ownings & Merrill. Retrieved on August 21, 2009.
  6. ^ "Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center Facts". CTBUH Skyscraper Database. Retrieved August 15, 2012.
  7. ^ "Marriott Renaissance Center". Emporis. Archived from the original on March 28, 2016.
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference DetroitAIA1980 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ a b Sharoff, Robert (2005). American City: Detroit Architecture. Wayne State University Press. ISBN 0-8143-3270-6.
  10. ^ Official World's 100 Tallest High Rise Buildings (Hotel Use). Emporis.com. Retrieved on May 30, 2008.
  11. ^ Mercer, Tenisha (October 19, 2005). "GM's RenCen renovation attracts new business back". The Detroit News. Retrieved July 24, 2007.[dead link]
  12. ^ AIA Detroit Urban Priorities Committee, (January 10, 2006).Top 10 Detroit Interiors Model D Media. Retrieved on November 23, 2007.
  13. ^ GM Renaissance Center.Hines. Retrieved on July 7, 2008.
  14. ^ "Locations List | Discover Renaissance Hotels". renaissance-hotels.marriott.com. Retrieved 2021-11-29.