Tallest Buildings In Detroit

Tallest Buildings In Detroit

Detroit, in the US state of Michigan, has a unique skyline in the country. Its skyscrapers reflect a number of architectural styles, from neo-gothic to Art Deco. Developers and architects turned to the construction of tall buildings in the 1880’s when some of the tallest building rose to 6 stories. Today, the buildings of Detroit reach much higher. This article takes a look at some of the tallest skyscrapers in the city.

Detroit Marriott At The Renaissance Center

The first building on the list is the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center which stands 727 feet high. Its 73 stories are completely dedicated to the hotel, making this the tallest hotel building in the Western Hemisphere. Built in 1977 on the International Waterfront, it is surrounded by four 39-story office buildings as part of the Renaissance Center design. When it first opened, it was the tallest hotel in the world until 1986 when Singapore, a taller hotel. The Detroit Marriott was first called the Detroit Plaza Hotel and later the Westin Hotel Renaissance Center. Its top 3 floors house a restaurant and move in a 360° turn. From the top, visitors can see as far away as 30 miles.

One Detroit Center

The second tallest building in Detroit is One Detroit Center. This building has 43 floors and stands at 619 feet. One Detroit Center was built between 1991 and 1993, designed by 2 architects specializing in postmodern design. It features a Flemish-inspired roofline in which the faces of the building separate into 4 spire-like structures with a neo-gothic design. It principal building material is granite. One Detroit Center serves as an office building; its oldest tenant is the Dickinson Wright law firm. This company has rented space since the building opened.

Penobscot Building

The Penobscot Building ranks third among the tallest buildings in Detroit and the oldest of the top 5 skyscrapers. Constructed in 1928, this building houses 47 floors within its 565-foot height. The Penobscot Building is located in the Financial District and was once the tallest building in the city, until 1977 when the Detroit Marriott took its place. After that, it remained the tallest office building in the city until the completion of One Detroit Center in 1993. This office building was designed with Native American-inspired themes in the Art Deco style. It is named after the Penobscot tribe in Maine. The principal building materials include limestone from the state of Indiana set on a granite base. Today, the largest tenant is the Wayne County Friend of the Court organization which takes up the floors from the sub-basement to the 8th floor.

Rencen Towers (100, 200, 300, 400)

The Rencen Towers are the previously mentioned 4 office buildings that surround the Detroit Marriott in the Renaissance Center. Tower 100, 200, 300, and 400 all share the spot for 4th tallest building in the city. Each building has a height of 522 feet and contains 39 stories. Together, these buildings have a total 2.2 million square feet of space. Their bottom 5 floors are dedicated to retail space. Towers 100 and 200 face Jefferson Avenue. Towers 300 and 400 face the riverfront area.

Guardian Building

The Guardian Building is number 5 on the list of tallest buildings in Detroit.

Other tall buildings in Detroit can be found in the chart below.