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. 
