For half a century, the massive, gleaming Renaissance Center has defined the Detroit skyline and riverfront. When the complex formally opened in 1977, it consisted of a central 73-story hotel tower and four attached 39-story office towers. At the time, the hotel was reportedly the tallest in the world.
Conceived in 1971 by a group of powerful civic leaders helmed by Henry Ford II and funded by a consortium headed by the Ford Motor Company, the $350 million futuristic Renaissance Center complex, designed by John Portman, was built in the hope of spurring further development after the 1967 civil disturbance rocked the city.
After ground broke in March 1973, the ongoing construction over four years, as pictured above, was a sight to behold for Detroiters.
The Renaissance Center was formally dedicated on April 15, 1977, with 800 people in attendance. President Jimmy Carter sent a telegram applauding the “vision and bold leadership” behind the project. The next evening, approximately 600 celebrants attended a Detroit Symphony Orchestra benefit in the Renaissance ballroom, while comedian Bob Hope provided further entertainment.
Often described as “a city within a city,” the complex — which included two smaller office buildings by 1981 — was designed to be “safely” separate from the downtown streets and ultimately drew criticism. Amid economic pressure, the project failed to create the sustained renaissance that was expected at the time.
In 1996, General Motors bought the “RenCen” and moved its headquarters there, investing millions in the following years to improve the site. The work included removing the concrete berms, building the “Wintergarden” — a five-story retail and exhibit space — and beginning construction on the award-winning Riverwalk.
Although GM relocated its headquarters to the new Hudson’s Detroit office building on Woodward Avenue earlier this year, the automaker partnered with Bedrock, the City of Detroit, and Wayne County to develop an ambitious plan to “right-size” the complex.
This story originally appeared in the July 2026 issue of Hour Detroit magazine. To read more, pick up a copy of Hour Detroit at a local retail outlet. Click here to get our digital edition.
|
|
|
|
|
|
