Office workers, visitors and downtown residents can find an essential mix of specialty shops, services and
dining conveniently located in the GMRENCEN, the Millender Center and the River East Center.
history
NOVEMBER 24, 1971
PROJECT ANNOUNCEDHenry Ford II announced plans for the Renaissance Center project. The name Renaissance Center was chosen in a contest to name the building. 141,537 entries were submitted.
MAY 22, 1973
CONSTRUCTION BEGINSPhase 1 of construction began on the Renaissance Center.
JULY 1, 1976
TOWER 100 OPENSThe first tower – Tower 100 – opens.
1977
HOTEL OPENSThe central hotel tower opened as the Detroit Plaza Hotel and was the world’s tallest all-hotel skyscraper. Today it is the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center and remains the tallest all hotel skyscraper in the Western Hemisphere.
APRIL 15, 1977
OPENING PARTY & DEDICATIONA formal dedication is held for the opening of the four, 39-floor office towers and the 73-story hotel. Bob Hope entertained guests at the Renaissance Center’s lavish opening party.
1981
TOWERS 500 & 600 OPENRenaissance Center Phase II, Towers 500 and 600, were opened as a separate venture developed by subsidiaries of Ford Motor Land Development Corporation and Rockefeller Center, Inc.
1987
DETROIT PEOPLE MOVERThe elevated Detroit People Mover transit line, after many years of construction, began operation with a stop at the Detroit Renaissance Center.
MAY 16, 1996
GM PURCHASES RENCENGeneral Motors announced the purchase of the Renaissance Center for use as its global headquarters.
AUGUST 1999
GLASS CIRCULATION RING INSTALLED288 panels of etched glass from Japan; each piece weighs in at 400 pounds, 3 inches thick; support by metal from Germany and cables from England.
DECEMBER 15, 2001
WINTERGARDEN OPENEDThe area which was once a parking garage, swimming pool and fitness center was changed into a 50,000 square-foot, five story atrium.
2004
GM COMPLETES RENOVATIONSGeneral Motors completes $500 million in renovations to the GM Renaissance Center. The GMRENCEN is now home to more than 5,000 GM workers and 6,000 tenant employees.
AUGUST 2004
CONCRETE BERMS REMOVEDGM removed the fortress-like concrete berms facing Jefferson Avenue for the new front entrance.
SEPTEMBER 1, 2004
ANDIAMO DETROIT RIVERFRONT OPENSAndiamo, an award winning restaurant, opens with spectacular views of the Detroit Riverfront.
DECEMBER 17, 2004
GM PLAZA IS DEDICATEDGM Company presented the deed for the GM portion of the Riverwalk to the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy as part of their commitment to the ongoing beautification and preservation of the riverfront.
JUNE 16, 2006
FIRST ROCKIN' ON THE RIVERFRONTSummer concert series premieres on the GM Plaza. First concert performer was Grand Funk Railroad, and other performers included The Romantics and Blue Oyster Cult.
JULY 2010
BCBSMBlue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan announced plans to lease space in Towers 500 and 600 and relocate 3,000 of its employees to this location.
SEPTEMBER 2011
THE PORT OF DETROITCruise lines begin docking along the riverfront at the new Port of Detroit—located just west of the GMRENCEN. This is the largest seaport in the state of Michigan.
OCTOBER 9, 2011
JOE MUER SEAFOOD OPENSJoe Muer restaurant opens, proudly continuing a tradition of dining and service excellence that began in 1929.
JULY 10, 2015
10th ANNIVERSARY FOR ROCKIN' ON THE RIVERFRONT10th anniversary kicks off with Doobie Brothers performing to record crowds. Other performers included Burton Cummings, Kansas, and Eddie Money.
JANUARY 22, 2016
GM EXPANSION ANNOUNCEMENTOver 110,000 SF of the GMRENCEN will be transformed into a world-class destination where visitors can learn about GM’s vision – from yesterday to today, tomorrow, and beyond.
APRIL 15, 2017
GMRENCEN CELEBRATED 40TH BIRTHDAYIn 2017, the GMRENCEN celebrated its 40th birthday by sharing 40 fun historical facts and hosting a scavenger hunt in the building.
JANUARY 2018
GM World Opens 
NOVEMBER 2019
Highlands Detroit opens on the 71st floor of the GMRENCEN. The restaurant’s three unique concepts include Highlands Detroit, Hearth 71 and High Bar, as well as events space on the 72nd floor. 
MARCH 2021
2021 marks 25 years since GM purchased the Renaissance Center and established the company’s headquarters on the Detroit Riverfront. GM has invested $1 billion in the GMRENCEN and the Detroit Riverfront. amenities
At the GMRENCEN, tenants enjoy the advantages of our Centered on Service approach, a 5-star program designed by CBRE, Inc. to provide a thoroughly enjoyable and productive work experience while also offering visitors unmatched amenities.
The very concept of Centered on Service stems from the strong circular design of the GMRENCEN itself. Within its walls, the iconic Detroit skyscrapers offer some of the city’s finest restaurants and lodging, high-profile events, a fitness center, an array of shops and international river views tailored to suit our tenant’s full lifestyle.
The program encourages a work-life balance that promotes productivity and offers tenants the privileges of a vibrant downtown location. From conference and meeting spaces with the latest technology to free Wi-Fi in a glass Wintergarden overlooking the RiverWalk, GMRENCEN tenants are treated to services that simply can’t be found elsewhere in metro Detroit.
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See What’s in Store for You!
sustainability
GMRENCEN management makes it easy for occupants to be “green” during their time in the building by recommending behaviors that reduce overhead and office consumption, offering a recycling program that can be customized to any office type or size, and providing guidance on the proper disposal of assorted waste, including electronics. Since awareness is crucial to educating occupants on the benefits of sustainability, GMRENCEN partners with EPA, U.S. Green Building Council and others in promoting energy and resource efficiency through exciting campaigns, from national Earth Day to “Change the World, Start with ENERGY STAR.” There’s even a popular campaign featuring superheroes to help transport the message!
Additionally, the GMRENCEN provides the following services:
- Electronic recycling
- Recycling batteries
- Water bottle recycling
- Pop can/returnable recycling
- Composting
- Cardboard recycling
- EV chargers
- Construction material recycling
- We also have an indigenous pollinating garden with active beehives
To learn more, browse through the links below, or just call Property Management and say… “Go Green!”
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GMRENCEN Environmental Commitment
VISION:
Create and maintain an environmentally responsible culture through sustainable innovation, performance and community involvement.Key Environmental Principles (RECIPE):
- Reduce, re-use, recycle
- Eliminate waste
- Continue to model responsible behaviors
- Improve our surroundings
- Prevent additional harm to the environment
- Engage the workforce and communities
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Saving Wildlife and Energy!
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Recycling in the City of Detroit
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Earth Hour
The GMRENCEN complex and hundreds of millions of other people around the world switch off their non-essential lighting during Earth Hour every 4th Saturday in March at 8:30 p.m. This annual event is the world’s largest public environmental action, involving hundreds of millions of people from more than 5,000 cities and towns in 135 countries/territories across all continents. For additional information, visit www.earthhour.org.If you happen to be downtown during Earth Hour and catch photos or video of the GMRENCEN and/or the city going dark, we’d love to see your pictures. Tag us on Facebook, or tweet with us @gmrencen, #earthhour.
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Building Awards
GMRENCEN – Standing Tall as a 2019-2020 TOBY Award Winner!
The GMRENCEN received The Outstanding Building of the Year Award in the 1 million square foot category by BOMA.
The GM Renaissance Center is a source of pride and inspiration for our employees, business associates, and the people of Detroit.
Through its world-class design, use of technology, first-class hotel, and highly regarded retail tenants, this facility creates an
exciting environment with a global character. The workplace design facilitates teamwork, openness, efficiency, and information
sharing. Above all, GM’s headquarters signals our focus on people and our belief that the company’s future will be created by
their expertise, creativity, values, and passion. Our headquarters is an epicenter for the renaissance of GM’s corporate culture
and the city of Detroit.
2015-17 Wildlife Habitat Council Award
In recognition of the GMRENCEN’s wildlife habitat management and conservation education programs.
2014; Detroit Free press Michigan Green Leader Award for ‘Green Building Practices’
Detroit Free Press Michigan Green Leaders winners demonstrate that opportunities for environmentally friendly businesses continue to grow every year. The GMRENCEN was awarded the ‘Green Building Practices’ in 2014 for becoming “landfill-free”. Every occupant of the six-tower complex is expected to either recycle, reuse and refurbish all the waste they generate or send it to a waste-to-energy converter. The winners were chosen in nine categories by an independent panel of volunteer judges who have expertise in sustainability and green issues. The winners were honored at an awards lunch at the Westin Book Cadillac featuring a panel discussion about blight removal, urban farming, mass transit and other development topics important to Detroiters.2012-2013; BOMA TOBY (The Building of the Year) Award
2013; Energy Star Award for River East Center (Towers 500 & 600)
2008; ULI Award of Excellence
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Helpful Links
