General Motors has announced that it will be moving its Detroit headquarters to a new downtown office building next year and will work on redeveloping its current home at the Renaissance Center along the Detroit River. The new office building will be located in the heart of the city, about a mile north of the Renaissance Center. GM CEO Mary Barra believes that the move to a brand new state-of-the-art office building will help the company recruit talent in the future and keep its headquarters in the city for the foreseeable future.
Barra stated that GM is open to ideas about the future of the Renaissance Center complex, which the company bought nearly three decades ago. The company has invested over $1 billion in the complex over the years. While GM is not currently selling the building, it is possible in the future. Bedrock, a real estate firm, will collaborate with GM, the city, and Wayne County to come up with ideas for revamping the iconic tower complex. The goal is to explore residential, commercial, and mixed uses for the RenCen, as it is known locally.
GM purchased the tower complex in 1996 and later moved its headquarters there from a site north of downtown. Over the years, Bedrock has played a significant role in revitalizing downtown Detroit by acquiring and renovating various properties. The company’s chairman, Dan Gilbert, also oversees Rocket Mortgage. Barra expressed confidence that by working together, they can create a bright future for the RenCen complex. The announcement marks the end of an era for GM at the current site.
In a 2022 interview, Barra mentioned that GM plans to maintain its main office at the RenCen complex across from Canada in the foreseeable future. However, she noted that she could not predict what might happen in five, 10, or 15 years. The company recently saw about 5,000 white-collar workers take early retirement buyouts, leading to a reduced need for office space due to hybrid work schedules. Most of GM’s workforce, including product development and engineering, is located north of the city at a modernized technical center in suburban Warren.
The Renaissance Center was originally constructed by Henry Ford II in the 1970s as part of an initiative to revitalize Detroit’s downtown area. Bedrock recently announced the completion of the final structural steel beam for the Hudson’s tower project, which is expected to offer a mix of retail, office, dining, hospitality, and residential spaces. This indicates the ongoing efforts to transform Detroit’s urban landscape and attract businesses and residents to the city. Overall, the collaborative efforts between GM, Bedrock, and local governments aim to shape the future of these iconic properties in Detroit.
