Detroit's Renaissance Center Loses a Longtime Resident

Urban Science, a data-mapping company, is relocating from Detroit's Renaissance Center to One Campus Martius. The move comes after General Motors (GM), the building's owner, announced future plans for the space.

Renaissance Center's Decline

• Built in 1980 and renovated last year
• Currently has only 11% occupancy
• Zoned for offices, homes, hotels, and shops
• Expensive to modify

Rebecca Gualdoni, Chief Human Resources Officer of Urban Science, noted that some of their space may be repurposed, prompting the move.

Detroit's Reaction

With a new mayor on the way, the top candidates weighed in:

• Mary Sheffield (Current City Council President):
• Believes the Renaissance Center is becoming outdated
• Hopes the city can find a way to repurpose it
• Rev. Solomon Kinloch:
• Wants more public input since the building is privately owned but may use public funds

GM and Bedrock's Vision

• Plan to demolish two towers to create more public space
• Aim to transform the area into something like Chicago's Navy Pier
• Urban Science's new space is set to begin construction later this year