The Renaissance Center (known locally as the RenCen) is a group of skyscrapers in downtown Detroit, Michigan, on the Detroit River. The Center has become a symbol for the resurgence of life and business in a city which has a reputation for urban decay and white flight. The Renaissance Center, located to the east of the city's central business district, is set apart from the rest of Detroit's skyscrapers, and it has gained a reputation for being a "city within a city" due to the large number of buildings and vast amount of office space that make up the complex. The buildings form a significant portion of the city's skyline, and the complex is almost always included in photographs, artwork, and souvenir items of the city--to the chagrin of some, who dislike its modernist architecture and isolated setting.

History and statistics

The Renaissance Center was built in an effort to revitalize the economy of Detroit after a long period of decline. The project was funded largely by Henry Ford II of Ford Motor Company as part of the larger Detroit Renaissance group, a collection of wealthy Detroiters who helmed many revitalization efforts througout the city in the late 1970s and early 1980s. It cost $337 million and the first tower opened on July 1, 1976. The RenCen was designed by John Portman. The complex consists of seven separate buildings: a central 73-story tower surrounded by four 39-story towers, and two 21-story towers to the northern side.

The Renaissance Center's centerpiece is the 1,298-room, 73-story, 726ft (221m) central tower. It is the tallest building in the state of Michigan and, for a while, was the tallest hotel in the world. The building is famous for its cylindrical design. The smaller cylinders on sides of all the towers house the elevators. The huge atrium lobby has artificial ponds, hanging gardens, and massive trees.

The Renaissance Center, seen on the right, stands away from the rest of Detroit's skyline.

The central tower was originally a Westin hotel when it was first completed, and at the time it was the tallest hotel building in the world. Ford Motor Company occupied many offices in the building. General Motors turned the building into its headquarters in 1996, but the building has still remained partially a hotel (now operated by Marriott).

The surrounding towers, named Tower 100, 200, 300, and 400, are 39 stories and 508ft (155m) tall. Two additional towers, named Towers 500 and 600, are 21 stories and 339ft (103m) tall and were completed in 1981. GM gained control of Tower 500 and 600 in 2001. The entire complex has 5.5 million ft² of office space and 150,000 ft² of retail space. Of the 8,000 people that work in the complex 6,000 are GM employees.

Although the Renaissance Center has helped to improve Detroit's economy, it has done little to revitalize pedestrian life in downtown Detroit. Until recently, massive berms surrounded the complex, preventing public access. The complex mainly housed offices, and there was little reason for Detroiters to visit. The berms have now been dismantled, and efforts are underway to incorporate the RenCen more into the city, with a shopping promenade, an entertainment center, and a top-floor restaurant in the central tower. Renovations began in 2001 and were completed in early 2005.

External links

• Renaissance Shops
• Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center
• Detroit Renaissance, the group that financed the construction.
• The Renaissance Center at Emporis.com