Tag Archives: ReflectingDetroit

3 Ways the Bees at the GMRENCEN are Helping the Planet

What’s buzzing at the GMRENCEN? Our bees, of course! The GMRENCEN works with the Honey Bee Squad to keep our bees. The Honey Bee Squad checks on the bees periodically to make sure the queen bee is laying eggs and that they have enough space to keep growing. We all know that bees make delicious honey but they also play a big role in keeping our planet healthy and beautiful. Here are three ways our bees are making this building, and the earth, a better place:

  1. Bees help our food grow.

     

    Garden photo

Bees are naturally good workers and they are happily employed here at the GMRENCEN pollinating our rooftop garden to help our tomatoes, peppers and herbs grow. Andiamo then incorporates the fresh harvest into many of their dishes.

  1. Our bees help Detroit’s gardens grow!

    Close up of bees

According to our Honey Bee Squad expert, Francois Faloppa, GMRENCEN bees will fly up to 20 square miles away from their hive which helps make local gardens and flower beds more productive. The bees keep the gardens well pollinated and will help more flowers bloom.

  1. GMRENCEN bees help further support sustainability.

    Francois Bee keeper

During the wintertime, the Honey Bee Squad preps the beehive with insulation to protect it from the harsh weather. We create insulation using plastic shipping trays from the GM Kokomo Operations facility in Indiana. Reusing the shipping trays helps keep waste out of landfills and helps the bees stay nice and warm when it’s cold outside.

For more information about the GMRENCEN’s sustainability efforts, visit: http://gmrencenwp.wpengine.com/about-the-ren-cen/.

The LEGO Brick GMRENCEN Model is AWESOME

When LEGOLAND Discovery Center announced a new Michigan location coming to Great Lakes Crossing Outlets back in March 2015, they hinted at a MINILAND featuring Detroit-area buildings and landmarks made from LEGO bricks.

Seven months later they launched a contest asking Detroiters to nominate their favorite metro Detroit landmarks. Ultimately, those results determined the top ten metro landmarks to be featured in the Detroit LEGO MINILAND.

 

Belle Isle

Comerica Park

Fox Theatre

GMRENCEN

Guardian Building

Michigan Central Station

Motown Museum

Spirit of Detroit

The Heidelberg Project

Uniroyal Tire

 

LEGOLAND Discovery Center Michigan then asked the public to pick one building/landmark from their list of ten to unveil at a special event before open.

 

Flash forward to today – Tuesday, May 31.

The top voted Detroit landmark – the GMRENCEN.

The special unveiling event – The North American International Auto Show.

And without further ado – the finished product.

 

https://instagram.com/p/BAscBYrKgIu

 

Stats

296 hours to construct
271 pounds of pure AWESOME
50,172 LEGO bricks in total… unless you ask Bryce

 

 

Opening
The new LEGOLAND Discovery Center Michigan opened at Great Lakes Crossing Outlets on March 25, 2016.

 

The top of the 6-foot structure peeking out over the cover.
The top of the 6-foot structure peeking out over the cover.

 

LEGOLAND GMRENCEN
General Motors announced the purchase of the Renaissance Center for use as its global headquarters on May 16, 1996.

 

The crowd looks on as LEGOLAND Discovery Center General Manager, Hayley Anderson and GMRENCEN Property Marketing Manager, Kate Hopper say a few words about what the MINILAND model means to Detroit.
The crowd looks on as LEGOLAND Discovery Center General Manager, Hayley Anderson and GMRENCEN Property Marketing Manager, Kate Hopper say a few words about what the MINILAND model means to Detroit.

 

The removal of the curtain was met with an overwhelming "WHOA" from the crowd.
The removal of the curtain was met with an overwhelming “WHOA” from the crowd.

 

LEGO Minifigure lunch rush in the GM Wintergarden.
LEGO Minifigure lunch rush in the GM Wintergarden.

Fun fact: LEGO people will eventually outnumber the human population.

 

Ten-year-old LEGO expert , Bryce B. posing with LEGOLAND Model Builder, Derek Chock.
Ten-year-old LEGO expert , Bryce B. posing with LEGOLAND Model Builder, Derek Chock.

 

The LEGO brick GMRENCEN will be on display in Hall D at the North American Auto Show now through January 24.
The LEGO brick GMRENCEN was on display at the North American Auto Show earlier this year.

 

Shout out to everyone who voted for the GMRENCEN and to LEGOLAND Discovery Center Michigan for making it a reality. Mark your calendars to see all ten Detroit landmarks/buildings featured in a MINILAND miniature LEGO brick display.

 

We know Bryce will be there.

Bryce

Go check out the LEGO GMRENCEN model today! LEGOLAND is open Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., last entry is 7 p.m. Saturday it’s open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., last entry is at 7 p.m. and Sunday it’s open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., last entry is at 4 p.m. Starting June 20, LEGOLAND will be open Monday-Friday at 9 a.m. If you want to visit LEGOLAND but don’t have any little ones, Adult Night is the last Thursday of every month from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Have you been to LEGOLAND Discovery Center yet? Enter to win four free passes to see the LEGO version of the GMRENCEN!
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9 Random Facts About the GMRENCEN

GM Renaissance Center

Conversation starters for the next time you ride up one of the building’s 107 elevators.

 

 

1. It’s so big that it has its own zip code – 48243.

 

2. There are roughly 1,500 plants throughout the complex.

GMRENCEN Wintergarden

 

3. The GM Plaza on the Detroit Riverfront was dedicated in December 2004.

 

4. The name “GM Renaissance Center” was chosen in a contest to name the building, 141,537 entries were submitted.

 

GM Renaissance Center

 

5. The Detroit Marriott has 1,298 guest rooms.

 

6. The GM Wintergarden was once a parking garage, swimming pool and fitness center.

 

7. Each glass panel used to build the Circulation Ring weighs in at 400 pounds.

 

GMRENCEN Circulation Ring

 

8. In 2015, almost 60 tons of the building’s food waste was composted and re-purposed.

 

9. On windy days the building can sway up to thirty inches.

 

 

 

 

 

 

8 Detroit Instagrams that Embody the Spirit of the City

Detroit is a city. It’s an American icon, a womb for modern-day transportation and the birthplace of music phenomenon’s like Motown and Techno. But it’s also an energy. An energy that’s fueled by its people. Detroit pride is alive and well. And this is what it looks like.

 

@seuong

Known for: Scenery, interesting perspectives

https://instagram.com/p/9HAj1JCf26/

 

@freefacephoto

Known for: Portraits, action shots

https://instagram.com/p/8TdojiSx2g/

 

@tonydetroit

Known for: Scenery

https://instagram.com/p/7yUhJ6EKpb/?taken-by=tonydetroit

His work even landed him a billboard deal with 1800 Tequila.

 

@cadillac_flatts

Known for: Scenery, filters

https://instagram.com/p/7oMVzCRE4Z/?taken-by=cadillac_flatts

 

@mindchip

Known for: Photo manipulation

https://instagram.com/p/8Ivo6dhTPJ/?taken-by=mindchip

 

@l_i_v_e_f_r_e_e_ 

Known for: Scenery

https://instagram.com/p/6yocKnnViN/?taken-by=l_i_v_e_f_r_e_e_

 

@detroit_chiver

Known for: Scenery, portraits

https://instagram.com/p/2Wu-HkmUju/?taken-by=detroit_chiver

 

@camera_jesus 

Known for: Scenery, action shots

https://instagram.com/p/3GA74hg3SH/?taken-by=camera_jesus

Tell us who your favorite Detroit Instagramers are in the comments section. Don’t forget to follow @GMRENCEN on Instagram, and tag us in your photos.