Ally Detroit Center
The building in 2022
Former namesOne Detroit Center
(1993–2015)
Alternative namesComerica Tower
500 Woodward Avenue
General information
StatusCompleted
TypeCommercial offices
Architectural stylePostmodern
Location500 Woodward Avenue
Detroit, Michigan
Coordinates42°19′48″N 83°02′42″W / 42.330°N 83.045°W / 42.330; -83.045
Construction started1991
Completed1993
OwnerBedrock Detroit
Height
Antenna spire188.7 m (619 ft)
Roof184.9 m (607 ft)
Top floor176.2 m (578 ft)
Technical details
Floor count43
2 below ground
Floor area1,674,700 sq ft (155,580 m2)
Lifts/elevators22
Design and construction
Architect(s)Philip Johnson
John Burgee
DeveloperHines Interests
Main contractorWalbridge Aldinger Company
References
[1][2][3][4]

Ally Detroit Center, formerly One Detroit Center, is a skyscraper and class-A office building located in Downtown Detroit, overlooking the Detroit Financial District. Rising 619 feet (189 m), the 43-story tower is the tallest office building in Michigan and the second tallest building overall in the state behind the central hotel tower of the Renaissance Center, located a few blocks away. Although the Penobscot Building has more floors above ground (45), those of Ally Detroit Center are taller, with its roof sitting roughly 60 feet (18 m) taller than that of the Penobscot. It has a floor area of 1,674,708 sq ft (155,585.5 m2).

Architecture

Ally Detroit Center from Jefferson Avenue

The building was designed by noted architects John Burgee and Philip Johnson, partners influential in postmodern architecture.[5] Ally Detroit Center was constructed from 1991 to 1993. It houses numerous tenants, including many prominent Detroit law firms and PricewaterhouseCoopers. In addition to retail, the building also contains a restaurant and a gym.

The building is famous for its postmodern architectural design topped with Flemish-inspired neo-gothic spires which blend architecturally with the city's historic skyline.[5] It is constructed mainly of granite. Sometimes called a "twin gothic structure", for its pairs of spires, it is oriented North-South and East-West (as named on a plaque along the Windsor waterfront park). Ally Detroit Center won an Award of Excellence for its design in 1996. Ally Detroit Center replicas have become a souvenir item along with those of other Detroit skyscrapers.[6]

Project plans for a twin tower directly to the east, Two Detroit Center, were placed indefinitely on hold.[7] Two Detroit Center parking garage was constructed on the site in 2002.[8]

Tenants

The law firm Dickinson Wright (formerly Dickinson, Wright, Moon, Van Dusen & Freeman) has its headquarters in Ally Detroit Center.[9][10] The company moved into the building when it opened in 1992.[11] In 2007, when it renewed its lease, the company occupied almost 100,000 square feet (9,300 m2) of space in the building.[10] Additionally, the international law firm of Clark Hill, PLC operates its headquarters on three floors of the building.

The building was previously occupied by Comerica Bank. The bank's lease on then Comerica Tower at Detroit Center ran through 2012, and in December 2009, Comerica announced it would vacate One Detroit Center at the end of the lease, consolidating its Michigan operations at 411 West Lafayette Boulevard.[12][13]

In March 2015, following the purchase of the building by Dan Gilbert through his Bedrock Real Estate Services, Bedrock and Ally Financial announced a 12-year lease under which it would move its main office into the building from the nearby Renaissance Center as well consolidate all employees in suburban Detroit to the building, occupying 20 floors or approximately 321,000 square feet (29,800 m2). The tower was renamed Ally Detroit Center.[14][15]

In 2015, a full service restaurant, Townhouse, opened in the first floor of the Ally Detroit Center, situated on the corner of Woodward and Congress.[16] In 2019, a Plum Market grocery store was opened in the first floor, with an entrance at the corner of Woodward and Larned.[17][18]

References

  1. ↑ "Ally Detroit Center". CTBUH Skyscraper Center.
  2. ↑ "Emporis building ID 118524". Emporis. Archived from the original on March 7, 2016.
  3. ↑ "Ally Detroit Center". SkyscraperPage.
  4. ↑ Ally Detroit Center at Structurae
  5. 1 2 Sharoff, Robert (2005). American City: Detroit Architecture. Wayne State University Press. pp. 104–105. ISBN 978-0-8143-3270-2.
  6. ↑ InFocusTech skyscrapers. Retrieved on July 16, 2009.
  7. ↑ Gallagher, John; Dick Rochan (October 27, 1991). "Unbuilt Detroit". The Detroit Free Press Magazine. Archived from the original on November 7, 2010. Retrieved August 15, 2012.
  8. ↑ "Two Detroit Center Garage". Emporis. Archived from the original on July 24, 2020.
  9. ↑ "Dickinson Wright gaming practice enters Europe with law firm agreement in Bulgaria." Crain's Detroit Business. November 12, 2013. Modified November 13, 2013. Retrieved on November 23, 2013. "Detroit-based law firm Dickinson Wright PLLC announced Tuesday a cooperation agreement with Velchev & Co., a law firm based in Sofia, Bulgaria."
  10. 1 2 "Dickinson Wright renews Ally Detroit Center lease." Crain's Detroit Business. December 3, 2007. Retrieved on November 23, 2013.
  11. ↑ "Tenant Testimonials". Ally Detroit Center. Archived from the original on November 23, 2013. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  12. ↑ "Comerica to move headquarters to Dallas". Houston Business Journal. March 6, 2007. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  13. ↑ "Comerica Bank to Invest $18 Million in its Landmark 411 W. Lafayette Building" (Press release). Comerica. December 17, 2009. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  14. ↑ Gallagher, John (March 31, 2015). "Gilbert buys One Detroit Center, persuades Ally to move". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
  15. ↑ Felton, Ryan (March 31, 2015). "Gilbert buys One Detroit Center; Ally Financial to consolidate regional offices into building". Metro Times. Detroit. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  16. ↑ Roberts, Adrienne (March 27, 2015). "New Townhouse Restaurant to Open at One Detroit Center in June". DBusiness. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
  17. ↑ "Downtown Detroit, Ally Detroit Center". Plum Market. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
  18. ↑ Davis, Jay (June 1, 2021). "Restaurant Roundup: Downtown Plum Market reopens, Woodpile expanding and more". Crain's Communications. Crain's Detroit Business. Retrieved January 3, 2023.

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