GM RenCen at 25 – GM Looks to the Future of Detroit’s Riverfront
2021-03-12
$1 billion invested in RenCen and Detroit riverfront transformation since 1996
GM looking to the future with global headquarters as flagship of the city’s riverfront
$2.2 billion Factory ZERO EV assembly plant to open later this year and create 2,200 manufacturing jobs in Detroit
DETROIT – In 1996, General Motors acquired the Renaissance Center to house its world headquarters on Detroit’s riverfront, a milestone that helped spark a downtown renaissance and enhance public spaces along the Detroit River. Twenty-five years later, GM enters the next chapter of its story in the city it has called home for more than a century.
GM’s impact is seen clearly at the top of Detroit’s skyline – the GM RenCen. Following 25 years of near-constant improvements, Detroit’s signature riverside complex is a much different and more vibrant place than it was in the 1990s. GM’s initial $500 million renovation reshaped downtown Detroit, most notably taking down the fortress-like concrete berms and opening the doors to continued enhancements. GM helped city residents and visitors rediscover the riverfront by developing the first phase of the Detroit International RiverWalk, which – thanks to the private-public Detroit Riverfront Conservancy – offers 3.5 miles of outdoor public space, nearing the eventual goal of 5.5 miles.
The progress has been so dramatic that the Detroit riverfront was recently named by USA Today as the country’s best river walk in 2021.
“After 25 years of our involvement in the transformation of Detroit’s riverfront, our commitment to the city is steadfast,” said GM President Mark Reuss. “We look to the future with our global headquarters continuing as the flagship of Detroit’s riverfront.”
Factory ZERO, just four miles from the GM RenCen, opens this year as the flagship plant in GM’s all-electric future. GM’s $2.2 billion investment in Factory ZERO (formerly the Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly Center) for retooling and upgrades will position the facility to build EVs at scale. It represents the single largest investment in a plant in GM history. Once fully operational, the plant will create more than 2,200 manufacturing jobs in Detroit.
“The Detroit RiverWalk exists in large part due to the visionary leadership of General Motors,” said Mark Wallace, president and CEO of the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy. “GM joined the City of Detroit and the Kresge Foundation in 2003 to form a public-private partnership that has transformed the riverfront into a beautiful gathering place. Additionally, GM has built some of the most beloved places on the riverfront, including the GM Fountain, GM Plaza and the Wintergarden.”
GM’s engagement and impact in the city extends into some of the city’s most important civic institutions and priorities. In just the past five years, GM has invested more than $50 million with local non-profits delivering lasting change in education, workforce development, neighborhood revitalization and placemaking efforts across the city.
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General Motors (NYSE:GM) is a global company focused on advancing an all-electric future that is inclusive and accessible to all. At the heart of this strategy is the Ultium battery platform, which powers everything from mass-market to high-performance vehicles. General Motors, its subsidiaries and its joint venture entities sell vehicles under the Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, Cadillac, Baojun and Wuling brands. More information on the company and its subsidiaries, including OnStar, a global leader in vehicle safety and security services, can be found at https://www.gm.com.