On November 24, 1971 Henry Ford II, then chairman of the board of directors of Ford Motor Company, announced the Renaissance Center project to the Detroit Common Council. One year later, site clearance for the Center began. On July 1, 1976 the first office tower (Tower 100) was opened. A formal dedication was held on April 15, 1977 for the four, 39-floor office towers and the 73-story hotel.

Renaissance Center Phase II, Towers 500 and 600, was opened in 1981, a separate venture developed by subsidiaries of Ford Motor Land Development Corporation and Rockefeller Center, Inc. and purchased by ANR Ren-Cen, Inc. in 1984.

On May 16, 1996 General Motors announced the purchase of the Renaissance Center for use as its global headquarters and later announced a $500 million renovation of the Center. The GM Renaissance Center is now home to more than 6,000 GM workers and 2,000 Center tenant employees. The total square footage of the GM Renaissance Center is 5.5 million. The office towers include 2.2 million square feet of space; 150,000 square feet is dedicated to retail space. The Detroit Marriott Renaissance Center Hotel, one of the tallest hotels in the world, has 1,298 rooms.


Towers 500 & 600 - River East Center

Connected to Tower 200 of the GM Renaissance Center via a pedestrian skyway, and originally developed in 1983-1984, Towers 500 and 600 were the continuation of Henry Ford II's vision for the Renaissance Center. While that vision held steady for a number of years, the recent investment and commitment of a number of organizations have breathed new life into the GM Renaissance Center and the Detroit Riverfront.

In the fall of 2001, control of Towers 500 and 600 transferred to GM. This transfer of control launches the development of River East Village, a mixed use district situated on the 25 acres of prime riverfront land to the east of the GM Renaissance Center. To celebrate this new district and focus attention on the future development of Detroit's Riverfront, Towers 500 and 600 have been renamed River East Center.


Berms/North Entry

In August 2001, the 2-year project to remove the berms in front of the Center and to construct a new North Entrance began. The berms project is part of GM's commitment to the City of Detroit to open the GM Renaissance Center to the community. The project has necessitated the temporary closing of certain pedestrian and vehicular traffic areas. Public information materials are available to assist downtown employees and visitors with alternate routes of ingress and egress during the construction period.

Log onto www.detroitinfojoe.com for more updates on street closures, People Mover, bus stop relocations, parking and other downtown Detroit construction-related information.

GM Renaissance Center Food Court

The 1,100-seat food court located on the Center's Level A, opened in April 2000. Some restaurants open as early as 6:00 a.m., and all others open by 10:00 a.m. Most restaurants close at 6:00 p.m.; others remain open until 9:00 p.m. Please check the story directory pages for individual store information.

Glass Circulation Ring

Suspended from stainless steel rods from the GM Renaissance Center's ceiling, this 12-foot wide glass walkway was completed in October 1999. The ring provides for easy navigation and connects workers and visitors to each office tower on Level 2.

Office Lobbies

The new look of the GM Renaissance Center's four, Level 2 office lobbies showcases the pride and passion of General Motors employees from around the world. The lobby graphics program was designed to correspond with each tower's designated color theme to improve wayfinding. Each office tower lobby has a unique 10-foot by 100-foot, curved photographic panorama; the mural includes photos of GM employees and inspiring quotations about teamwork. Tower 400, with a diversity theme, features photos and quotations from Center tenants.

GM Wintergarden

Under construction for more than two years, the Wintergarden opened in December 2001, and is the most dramatic change to the Renaissance Center since it was opened in 1977. It features a five-story atrium with views of the Detroit River and Windsor, Ontario. Ten 40-foot palm trees line the 13,700 squre-foot main floor that serves as a gathering place for employees, hotel guests and a venue for GM-sponsored events. The 50,000 square-feet Wintergarden will host restaurants and retail services on two levels. Jos. A. Bank, a national men's fashion retailer, opened in the Wintergarden in 2002.