The landmark Renaissance Center that has served as GM headquarters since 1996 could be headed for an appointment with the wrecking ball (or its modern equivalents) according to the latest information from people close to the current discussions.
One or possibly two of the seven towers might be spared for the sake of Detroit’s “skyline,” with the remainder leveled and possibly replaced with new construction, the Detroit Free Press reports.
The survival of even those towers might be in doubt, however, since one of the anonymous informants speaking to the Free Press remarked, “People say, ‘You’ll change the whole skyline of Detroit.’ Well then, are we to leave a vacant monument just to keep the skyline?” The area is “needed” as a “gateway to the city” according to the same individual.
The Renaissance Center is potentially on the chopping block because its outdated structure likely makes it unusable for modern housing or offices. The exterior is glass while the interior is riddled with a maze of corridors, considered grossly inefficient compared to modern designs. The glass siding, in particular, makes the design energy-wasteful since it is extremely difficult to insulate.
The decision has not yet been finalized and talks are ongoing. Participants naturally include GM itself, which originally spent $73 million to acquire five of the seven towers, a pair of architectural companies, and a real estate company, Bedrock. Bedrock has an agreement to buy GM’s share of the Renaissance Center, but this can be canceled if the parties opt for a different outcome.
The automaker and Bedrock recently approached the government of Michigan, asking the state to contribute several hundred million dollars to the demolition of at least some towers, plus an overhaul of any that are left standing and the construction of new buildings on the site. The state’s response is currently unknown.
GM CEO Mary Barra failed to deny that Renaissance Center demolition was being considered back in late May. The automaker’s exit from the RenCen started to be discussed back in early summer 2022, with conversion to residential space, offices, or a combination of the two being among the demolition alternatives.
The General will soon move its HQ to the top two floors of Hudson’s Detroit, a building that is owned by Bedrock. Remote work has reduced the need for enormous spaces divided into cubicles, though GM is already planning to lease more of Hudson’s, including ground-floor areas that will be used as vehicle showrooms.
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Comments
Yep – modern architecture is definitely not timeless.
1. Detroit never atracted me, because it is A. too cold. B. there is no good 30°C warm beach
2. The Bld seems interesting but do not care if they destroy it, if it would be in abu dhabi then would be sad
3. Read the BMW DAX is increasing again, which is pity, it reached 87, and now is 91, hope goes down again
3) ??????
Gm- mark of destruction….
Nice how they’re trying to fleece the state for “hundreds of millions” of dollars to DESTROY a building. Pure Michigan!
I had to read that part of the story twice because I thought I misread it.
That’s some serious hutzpah right there.
They paid 73 million for most of the towers, now the state will pay “multiple hundreds of millions” to demolish? How about leave them be, and the price of cheap renting will draw in new business. Free market at work.
Asbestos abatement. That’s why. The building was completed in 1977 which is before asbestos was banned. I was reading an article that the building is starting to cost too much to upkeep and in need of replacing their HVAC systems. This on top of asbestos abatement (which HVAC piping and ductwork insulation of this era has) is a very involved process will cost GM millions. Not to mention the new WFH trend making it difficult to fill office vacancies now. The building has become an endless money pit for the General and it’s the main reason they want to move out. It’s a costly investment property that is not even bringing GM many returns.
it is a horrible group of buildings. Will cost way more to try to bring them to any kid of modern standard. Worked there for a couple years on and off. Just a maze of difficult to navigate run downbuildings.
Worked there for many years, through all the remodeling, removal of the cooling bunkers, etc. GM spent hundreds of millions redoing the inside. Was a Great place to work. If this is torn down, about 20 other buildings should also go downtown. GM is just shrinking until it’s a shell of it’s former self. They want everyone to huddle at the Tech Center. Eventually it also can be torn down to make room for subsidized housing. The token few executives to be housed at the new Hudson location is just a formality to claim “Detroit” presence. The ugly train station could stand empty for decades but beautiful buildings like the Ren Cen must be torn down quickly. What a tragedy!
Which GM spent hundreds of millions on it? Old GM which collapsed in 2009? Or the new GM that is trying to return to glory as the lead EV maker?
Old GM burnt money on all kinds of bad ventures hence the collapse. If new GM spent tons on it they learned nothing for their history
Ugly train station? Beautiful Ren Cen?
Yikes for the comment section.
So, do you mean to tell me that after spending MILLIONS to remove the system located in those berms and relocating it, it now has to be REPLACED? GM should be kept away from architecture. They turned that building into a cheap Chinese knock off, just like their crappy made in China cars engineered by $2 per hour hacks without drivers licenses…
Some buildings annual maintenance and repair make it cheaper to rent a new space .
If GM can’t afford it then nobody else could do it
I used to call GM “General Mafia.” Once a car company gets in, the only way out is in a coffin (SAAB, Hummer, the other consolidated GM brands like Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Isuzu to a point). Seems like this also applies to buildings.
The Renaissance center used to have a movie thewtre in it. They took it out, this is jsutnofany things they could be brought back to the renaissance center. Bring auto show to renaissance. They claim it will be vacant. Well Huntington place is vacant when no venues is in use. how come they down tear that down. They should put a movie theater in the rencen maybe a shopping mall type plaza inside the recen more restaurants maybe use one of the towers for a museum. There is endless possibilities without having to consider tearing it down plus its an iconic building they done already got rid of everything made Detroit Detroit . We dont have a mall in the city, instead of always tearing down stuff how about btinging life back into things likebthey did with the detroit train station Huntington place aka cobo hall is always empty when nothing going on in it its nothing but a huge space how come they find use for that but not ren cen? I’m hopeful they will find good use for renaissance center instead of tearing it down. I still think a huge movie theater should return why did they take it out in the first place. however they use the building I dont think they should just tear it down.
“I still think a huge movie theater should return why did they take it out in the first place?”
It did indeed have a movie theater and GM closed it not too long after they moved in partly because they found out some employees were going to the afternoon movies instead of working (these days they call that working remotely). The obvious solution was to only show evening movies but nobody showed up.
I agree that tearing it down seems like an incredible waste but the economics of such a large structure in metro Detroit (and a lot of other places) are working against it.
It was open till 09 as I watched many a movie during my college years.
That’s interesting. Soon after GM bought it and moved in I had an office in the southwest tower (can’t remember the number) and not long after that they closed the theatre…at least for some time. Apparently they reopened it per your experience.
I had another office at the Tech Ctr where I spent most of my time so that’s possible.
All four theaters were open to my knowledge, but only remember being in one or two. I was eating McDonald’s at the base of the “GM World” escalators during GM’s 100th celebration and Volt unveiling. At one point Bob Lutz came down the escalators laughing his butt off after they had had a sniffle with the camera system. The Japanese consulate used to be in Renaissance Center, I use the FedEx Kinkos and the USPS often, bought gifts at the Hallmark store, got my haircut at Gents by DeMongo in the Millender Center, stayed in the Marriott, ate my graduation supper for a whopping $800 bucks at the Coach Insignia restaurant, and utterly loved the building. There is truly nothing left of the old GM, and that is a shame. When GM moved into the Renaissance Center from the old GM World headquarters, there were 1,200 window air conditioners to provide AC in the old building. GM sunk well over a billion dollars into renovations to the Ren Center. So much different than it was. So sad that GM isn’t utilizing it better, and that GM such a shell of itself. Considering GM is now going to rent their own headquarters, announced just days after Red Lobster blamed that same issue as to their downfall… Just telling of how the mighty have fallen.
Now there’s an IDEA Jeb !
Move GM Headquarters into a vacant Red Lobster on the cheap. They could save so much money that they could give the few employees free fish lunches.
They should have lost it when they went bankrupt and moved HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of jobs to china.
Gm need to go out of business. It’s a welfare queen corporation just like ford and chislers…
Wonderful statements and full agreed with these statements. GM should find other use for these beautiful buildings rather than cause a severe environmental crisis by tearing it down. The environment will be hurt like anything because of all the glass and cement/concrete that will be generated by destroying these buildings. As a vehicle manufacturer that cares about climate change, GM should think of alternatives. Climate change is very dangerous
Gm only cares about climate change when they can use it to bilk taxpayers out of BILLIONS.
They took the movie theater out not many customers and not the best theater the building is a money pit to maintain . Originally 7000 people worked there now everyone works from home
The RenCen should be marked as a historic landmark. Much like the Space Needle in Seattle, the US Bank Tower in Los Angeles, Sears Tower in Chicago, and the Chrysler Building in New York City, the RenCen is a part of Detroit’s identity and history, and has been for 50 years. The claim that it is “outdated” is crap. By that logic, every building ever built in the country should be demolished and replaced because they’re all outdated. And they can easily refill the building by doing away with working from home.
At one time the hotel was the tallest in the world and I still think it is the tallest building between Chicago and New York. On a clear day you can see the Ren Cen from 30 miles out if you are in a hilly area.
The new Hudson’s Buidling was supposed to be the tallest in Michigan supplanting the Ren Cen, but Dan Gilbert cut down the size several times due to the glut of office space in Downtown Detroit.
it is outdated. the hotel building created undersized and awkward room sizes. They are ugly inside and out.
Bummer. I’ve stayed at RenCen hotel a half dozen times over the years. It’s a very unique place and one I always looked forward to visiting in January during the Detroit auto show. Coach Insignia was pricy but worth the money given the view of the city.
The problem is Bedrock/Gilbert over built in downtown Detroit now there’s a glut of office and residential space so it’s really self serving. Removing the Renaissance Center will ease that glut. The sad part is that the land will probably sit empty for 20 years until they figure out what to do with it and the taxpayers can pay to fix it.
The easy thing to do in the intermeaning years is park space and expand the boardwalk.
GM has more than enough space at the Tech Center to operate. The two floors downtown are more than enough to keep the Detroit mailing address. As it was, GM was ready to leave Detroit when it moved out of the other downtown building. They only took on the RenCen because Ford was walking away and the incentives to take over and remake the RenCen made it a giveaway. It’s always been a terrible building and isn’t worth another rework. Save the two traditional buildings next door, level the round towers, and build a proper amphitheatre with the river as a backdrop. The Ren Cen was never GM’s idea to begin with.
The two building next door were built after the original Ren Cen. The center tower should be preserved as well as two of the original shorter towers.
what do you propose to be in the center tower? Too small for offices.
Keep it a hotel.
Clearly you don’t know a thing about this building!
Such stupidity it could be a huge shopping mall, Musem the list goes on and on. Its a symbol to Detroit. Why cant another car company move in, like Ford or Chrysler there’s so many options before taring it down. Get these people out of office now they don’t know what there doing.😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡
It doesn’t matter when you’re spending someone else’s money.
Maintenance and repair $$$$$. You can get better better space cheaper. GM knows it and so does everyone else.
I get it… It is a symbol of the city!
But, shopping malls are closing everywhere. It is built of mostly glass and concrete and that leaves very little opportunity for redesign. Marriott (who operates the center tower, built to be a hotel) was leaving due to the cost to operate the building.
Ford is dramatically scaling back it’s offices in Dearborn. Chrysler doesn’t even exist anymore their main offices are in France and they have closed areas off in their building in Auburn hills.
I love the look of the building and the skyline. But it will just end up empty and falling apart and that will be a worse fate for a symbol.
there is not a scenario where it could be succesfully turned into a mall. this is a 10 out of 10 absurd suggestion.
It is a shopping mall on the lower level, only no business ever renews a lease unless they serve lunch! They either go out of business due to no business, or they get smart and leave.
Didn’t Ford just renovate the old train station that’d sat vacant for years. It’s quite beautiful now as I understand it and wonderful for Detroiters to have it back in use. The point is that it might take time to find the right use for Renaissance Center as it did for the similarly unique train station. Before it gets immediately demolished, they ought to give it a chance. The City of Detroit has already destroyed enough of its architectural history and demolishing the building created to spark a “renaissance” in the downtown would be the epitome of bad optics for the City. Further, it’s not just a generic building; it was designed by John Portman whose stature, though still being debated, has been rising in architectural circles since his passing. Portman was a very consequential architect, who developed the “inward facing” atrium concept that was his signature and was widely copied in his era.
So many works of Frank Lloyd Wright were destroyed in the early year’s following his passing which is considered a tragedy today. Might Portman someday be so revered as to render the demolition of his works a similar tragedy. Only time will tell. GM so often cancels products quickly (CT6) that they see no future for so perhaps the die is cast for this monumental building but I would hope that for its historical significance and prominence in the Detroit skyline, a savior is out there.
Reality is 100 year old building were often built better than newer buildings. For example the Ren Center is all glass a material with a lifespan. At some point all the glass will require replacing which is likely a job that will cost more than market value of the building. If you do it the result is an unattractive late mid century glass monstrosity you can see in any city large enough to build such a building at that time. It is not an architectural masterpiece but just contractor grade mass commerical construction
Just to add to your comments, which I agree with, Henry Ford II was involved with the RenCen from the start. I gota imagine ol’ Hank the Deuce is rolling in his grave
he about bankrupted ford building the ren cen.
DEMOLISHING THE RENCEN IS THE DUMBEST THING I’VE EVER HEARD!
DEMOLISHING THE DETROIT RENCEN IS THE DUMBEST THING I’VE EVER HEARD!
It would be like Chicago demolishing the Sears Tower or New York demolishing the Empire State Building.
GM is a destructive parasite. There is nothing wrong with that building. ALL SKYSCRAPERS ARE CLAD IN GLASS! It’s a creative way of distracting people to support their destructive crusade. They bought the building and never needed the entire space and now realize it’s not cost effective and they aren’t interested in being landlords in an effort to make it become profitable.
They do this in every city they ever step foot in. They destroyed Lansing, MI, Windsor, Ontario and then Oshawa, Ontario. They keep building massive complexes and then abandon them. The difference here is that they know the land is worth millions and want to have taxpayers pay to demolish it and they’ll maintain ownership and then rebuild something and sell it or sell the land back to the city, once again using taxpayers dollars. Otherwise they’d just abandon it like they’ve done to 1 million square feet of factory in Oshawa and 2 million square feet of factories in Lansing and a few hundred thousand square feet of factories in Windsor.
I’m no architect. The buildings were outdated when they were conceived and ironically championed by the Duce. Do the courageous thing and take them down. Create more green space. Keep the middle finger if you are so inclined.
Or do the creative thing and repurpose them into apartments and condos.
I imagine Hank the Deuce (Henry Ford II) is rolling over in his grave at talks about the RenCen being demolished.
He’s probably rolling in his grave to see how his nephew and the goofs running Ford these days have run that company into the ground.
What most seem to not understand is that the cost to operate the building is astronomical. Especially in comparison to the efficiency of newer buildings today. Having spent years working next to it and spending many hours there, moving through the building is a jumbled mess. It was a poor design when it was build.
At the time of its construction steel was very expensive. Do most of the building was built of concrete. That leaves very little opportunity for renovations.
1. People work remotely now. Paying the cost of heating and cooling a all glass building for people to go to once a week makes no sense.
2. The rotation of restaurants and entertainment in and out of it over the years has shown it’s not viable as a destination of any sorts. There is too much other things to do in the city now.
3. The theater was small and due to the structure of the building was not able to expand and have a large screen like modern theaters. So no one went. It closed because it was not a viable location.
4. Marriott was leaving the building regardless. That is why they are building the new JW Marriott on the old Joe Lewis location. Because the Ren Cen is way too expensive to maintain, heat and cool.
As for the state paying for part of the demolition. That is what tax dollars are for. GM pays millions in tax dollars every year. They also employee thousands of people. Tax money is used in every municipality in the state to tear down d builds so that those areas can be redeveloped.
Vacant buildings bring nothing and that is what will become of the Ren Cen if nothing is done.
Commercial real estate is in free fall. Companies that still need large brick and mortar presence are cherry picking the best facilities and location. Lower rated buildings are then cherry picked for condo conversions. If building does not meet either of the above it will enter the under utilized, vacant, decaying and then demolition phase of it’s lifecycle
It should be made into a lateral greenhouse providing food for the whole community jobs in the downtown.
Detroit would be the leader in making such a bold move and demonstrate to the rest of the world what to do with these inefficient skyscrapers?
Such fond memories I have of the Ren Center. Back in the Disco Days, the lounge was one of the places to go. The Roostertail was another. Dinner at the Ren Cen was superb as well as dinner at Topinka’s and Top of the Ponch (Pontchartrain hotel). But that was back when good food, good music and dancing brought everyone together regardless of who you were.
As Seger sang, ♫”Such a fond memory. I think I’m gonna take it with me.” ♫
That building may look interesting, but it is a huge money sink. I worked in it in the 90’s. GM should have built its HQ in Warren.
AFTER THE WORLD TRADE CENTER (TWIN TOWERS) WERE DEMOLISHED.
NYC REBUILT.
One World Trade Center (One WTC) is the main building in the rebuilt World Trade Center complex in New York City’s Lower Manhattan. It’s located at Ground Zero, the site of the original World Trade Center complex that was destroyed in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
One WTC is the tallest building in the United States and the Western Hemisphere, and the seventh-tallest in the world.
Save money, fly planes into the towers.
Become too much of a Arab enclave.
And there congress women,, is anti American,,which leads me too think this is tolerated.
THE MONEY SHOULD BE SPENT TO IMPROVE THE DETROIT RENCEN!! THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO MODERNIZE IT! I’M SURE THAT THERE ARE SOME ARCHITECTURAL FIRMS THAT CAN MAKE IT MORE APPEALING WITH $100M!!!
THE MONEY SHOULD BE SPENT TO IMPROVE THE DETROIT RENCEN!! THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO MODERNIZE IT! I’M SURE THAT THERE ARE SOME ARCHITECTURAL FIRMS THAT CAN MAKE IT MORE APPEALING WITH $100M!!!
THEY SHOULD TURN THE DETROIT RENAISSANCE CENTER INTO A CASINO!!
LIKE SOARING EAGLE DETROIT RENAISSANCE CENTER CASINO!!!
Converting the Detroit Renaissance Center into a casino could have several potential advantages and challenges. Here are some factors to consider:
### Potential Advantages:
1. **Location**: The Renaissance Center’s central location in downtown Detroit could attract a high volume of visitors, including tourists and locals.
2. **Existing Infrastructure**: The complex already has substantial infrastructure, including parking, hotels, restaurants, and retail spaces, which could support casino operations.
3. **Economic Boost**: A casino could provide a significant economic boost to Detroit, creating jobs and generating tax revenue.
4. **Tourism**: It could attract more tourists to Detroit, benefiting other local businesses and attractions.
5. **Unique Offering**: The unique architecture and prominence of the Renaissance Center could make it a distinctive destination for gamblers and entertainment seekers.
### Potential Challenges:
1. **Regulatory Hurdles**: Converting the Renaissance Center into a casino would require navigating regulatory approvals, which can be complex and time-consuming.
2. **Public Opposition**: There may be opposition from the community or local businesses concerned about the potential negative impacts of a casino, such as increased crime or problem gambling.
3. **Competition**: Detroit already has several casinos, such as MGM Grand Detroit, MotorCity Casino, and Greektown Casino-Hotel. A new casino would need to differentiate itself and offer unique attractions to compete successfully.
4. **Economic Viability**: The initial investment for such a conversion would be substantial, and the casino would need to generate sufficient revenue to justify the expense.
### Success Factors:
1. **Unique Selling Proposition**: Offering unique gaming experiences, high-quality entertainment, and luxury amenities could attract a diverse clientele.
2. **Partnerships and Marketing**: Strategic partnerships and effective marketing campaigns could help attract visitors and promote the casino as a premier destination.
3. **Community Engagement**: Engaging with the local community and addressing concerns transparently could build support and mitigate opposition.
Ultimately, the success of converting the Detroit Renaissance Center into a casino would depend on careful planning, strategic marketing, and effective management to navigate challenges and leverage the center’s unique strengths.
How has any of the casinos really helped the city?? Drive past jefferson down Woodward a bit…detroit us more that jefferson/waters edge area…, we lost the WW2 WAR HERO Thomas Wigle Rec center to a sale of $1.3 million. Who paid for the 2 roads that went in? And the street lights, drains? Now more roads they have no money to fix. Just like alleyways.
GM has left detroit for warren, you just don’t know it yet. Tiny amount of offices at hudsons build? Big deal just for show. I have owned GM cars All my life…and their going down hill. City mayor wants out with the old in with the new. You make a little NY you get CRIME LIKE BIG NY..jefferson and ice rink area gets all the money.
The layout of the Ren Cen has always been the perfect metaphor for doing business in Detroit – you can see where you want to be, but you’ll only go around in endless circles and levels of confusion without ever reaching your goal.
China owned gm cannot even afford to tear down that dump on i94/i75, plant 21 which they used to build tooling for DECADES before sending it all to China.
Gm needs a 120% corporate tax rate instead of more taxpayer financed welfare.
Same with “bedrock”, an organized crime money laundry…
Continuing the downsizing of a once great American city. Both the business district and in the residential areas, Detroit needs to remove spaces that are no longer attractive to occupy by a shrinking population. In the meantime, it needs to expand the types of businesses it wants to attract to revitalize it. It’ll be for the best (I hope).
My thing is this, the Ren-Cen is a Detroit Staple , it’s part of what makes Detroit Detroit. You go to places like New York where unless it’s something really make that calls for demolition they save their old buildings especially if they’re historical ones. The Renaissance building had a theater and a revolving restaurant at the top. It’s also built to sway in high winds. So it’s very sound. Y’all already jacked up downtown with blocking off almost half the streets with this crazy parking so now you want to take this away, just so it can look like everywhere else? Our downtown was not made to look like everyone else’s downtown and there’s no more room for the all the stuff that you’re trying to put there. How much more freaking shopping , drinking, and eating do you need? It’s redundant! Leave the Ren-Cen alone! If you want more of that then put it in there, then you’ll have a whole menagerie of shopping and eating all in one spot.
GM’s main HQ has been in warren for a long time. Plus GM is mostly owned by China now.
I think that GM doesn’t really care about their customers and what they want. The CEO has murdered the Camaro because over priced and over designed and used cheap inferior plastics inside which if scratched it was permanent. Now with the cancellation of the Camaro and then rumors that the Blazer will be also discontinued. The CEO is out of touch, for years the CEO was trying to out-speed a Mustang so they focus so much I’m trying to beat the Mustang then to actually compete with the Mustang in value looks and feel. Now with new designs coming out about a Chevelle and a Firebird all made on the Camaro style framing all you’re doing is changing the name badge on a Camaro body. The chevy Equinox has an issue that if it’s a V4 on temperatures below zero the main oil seal pops off and it’s a $700 fix. Also keep in mind some Chevy vehicles have soy-based plastics for their wiring harness which field mice love the taste of and they will chew your wires apart
I honestly figure this is mostly about bilking somebody into paying more for the building to keep it than it is legitimatly planning to actually tear the building down. During bankruptcy there were rumors that the “fireman’s union?” was in talks to buy the building. To reconstruct the building at least in my college years was estimated at $12 billion dollars to rebuild at that time. I can’t believe gm didn’t move Cadillac HQ back in and let’s be honest, they could have moved digital design and engineering studios into the building.
Grow Vegetables along the glass inside to supply farmers market inside. Flexible solar panels to follow glass. Save energy and add an insulating barrier. Top of building cell phone tower. Top of building windmills supply electric power.
To all idiots:
1) EVERY SINGLE SKYCRAPER ON THE PLANET IS CLAD IN GLASS WINDOWS!!!!
2) That building is full of asbestos and stands on the Detroit River which is an international boundary between Canada and USA and the gateway to Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. CANADA AND THE GREAT LAKES SHOULD GET A SAY IF WE WANT MILLIONS OF POUNDS OF AIRBORN ASBESTOS BLOWN IN OUR FACES AND FORCED INTO OUR WATER JUST BECAUSE GM RECONSIDERED A BAD INVESTMENT!
THE RENCEN SHOULD BE CONVERTED INTO A CASINO!
IT WOULD BECOME THE #1 CASINO IN DETROIT!
EXAMPLE: LAS VEGAS STRIP HAS SEVERAL CASINOS!
IF THE DETROIT RENCEN IS CONVERTED TO BE A CASINO IT WOULD ATTRACT MORE GAMBLERS & TOURIST TO DETROIT.
THEY SHOULD INVEST THE $100M TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS & ENHANCE THE RENCEN WITH MORE AMENITIES!
TEARING IT DOWN IS WASTING RESOURCES!
I’m not a Detroiter or from Michigan, but as an outsider the Renaissance center makes Detroit look so much better. In my humble opinion, if the Renaissance center was repaired and reopened (similar to that beautiful train station ford just redid) I think that it could really anchor the city for decades to come. I just think it’s to grand and too cool to destroy, and I genuinely believe that Detroit would be worse off without it.
The destruction of so many pre-WW2 buildings and the urban fabric of this country is a tragedy from which we will never recover. No need to group glass monstrosities like this – that probably replaced earlier beauties – with the disaster that was urban renewal and the mid-century mass demolitions .
As a twin to Detroit’s Renaissance Center GM building, Atlanta’s Peachtree Plaza Westin hotel radiates excellence, its design a masterpiece that will continue to inspire, making demolition an unthinkable notion
Atlanta’s Peachtree Plaza has also been reworked multiple times. It got hit by a tornado so all the single pane glass was replace by double pane glass. The lobby with the lake was drained long ago, and replaced by black terrazzo, along with a new skylight system. The nightclub and bars were turned into conference rooms or just open lobby seating. The original restaurant (below the sidewalk) still works, and the upstairs 70th floor 3 level restaurant/bar/observatory is still quite popular. But all of Portman’s hotels have been reworked as trends change over time. the Marriott Marquis Atlanta did a major renovation and added a ballroom, while removing and consolidating restaurants which were literally at the four corners of a huge platform. The biggest changes at most of Portman’s properties were removing the art, sculptures and fountains which is just sad.