- Before understanding what changes will be made to the Renaissance Center, it is important for people to understand why the Renaissance Center is a cultural icon for the City of Detroit.
- GM’s decision to partner with Bedrock for the Renaissance Center redevelopment was done so with the future of Detroit in mind.
- The vision for the Renaissance Center will align with what future Detroiters are looking for.
Key Takeaways
View the full session recording below.
To kick off the 2025 Detroit Policy Conference, Fleisher and Massaron discussed the upcoming redevelopment of the Renaissance Center, demonstrating the continued revitalization and collective commitment to downtown Detroit, with Williams moderating the conversation.
The Significance the Renaissance Center Holds for Future Detroiters
The panel discussion started by explaining why the Renaissance Center is considered a cultural icon for the city of Detroit. Due to the recent success the city of Detroit has experienced, Detroiters have an extra level of excitement, demonstrating the hope they hold for the future of Detroit.
Related to the transformation of the Renaissance Center, Williams said, “There’s a challenge, but it’s also an opportunity here for the next generation of Detroiters.”
A significant part of Detroit that Detroiters take pride in is the beautiful skyline. After the redevelopment is completed, it will leave Detroiters feeling like they were part of the conversation, making them and the city of Detroit a continued priority for the state of Michigan.
Where GM Stands and Why They Partnered With Bedrock
GM built the Renaissance Center in 1996 with the intention of being closed off from the city, which initially sparked the conversation to redevelop the Renaissance Center.
Massaron touched on the current state GM is in from a business perspective, explaining how they are driving jobs and innovation globally. He continued the conversation by stating how GM has shifted how it works, making it more holistic. To ensure they understand the product as a whole, they brought together the vehicles’ makers, designers, and sellers.
“The way GM soars, the way Michigan soars, the way that we soar incredibly in the U.S., is they have a product portfolio that works,” Massaron said.
After a decade of building their product portfolio, Massaron said that GM tried to find new developments but also did not want to “repeat the mistakes of the past.” They needed a new center for the company of Detroit, which was the Hudson Building, and an expert in redeveloping the Renaissance Center. In the end, they decided to partner with Bedrock.
The Transformation of the Renaissance Center
Fleisher stated how the transformation of the Renaissance Center fulfills an “incredibly exciting, extraordinary, positive vision” and how it can be “transformed into something positive for the city.”
According to Fleisher, the main changes that will take place are:
- Resizing the Renaissance Center and making it open and accessible to everyone creates a welcoming environment for anyone visiting.
- Remove the podium to reconnect downtown to the Detroit RiverFront.
- Remove two office towers and replace them with a signature park, open to the public for anyone from anywhere.
In addition to these developments, Fleisher said there will be a hotel, apartments, and affordable housing, making it a “navy pier-like family-friendly entertainment destination to drive economic growth.”