General Motors Co. announced that it will relocate its global headquarters from the Renaissance Center on the Detroit River to Hudson’s Detroit in 2025, becoming the anchor tenant at Bedrock’s development on the historic site of the former J.L. Hudson department store on Woodward Avenue.
Financial terms of the transaction between GM and Bedrock are not being disclosed for the automaker’s initial 15-year, multi-level lease for the top office floors of the new state-of-the-art office building north of Hudson’s Detroit 48 story tower as well as showcase space on the street level for GM vehicles and community activations.
This marks GM’s fourth headquarters location in the city since 1911. Bedrock, the city of Detroit, and Wayne County will establish a partnership to explore redevelopment opportunities for the Renaissance Center site over approximately the next year, prior to GM’s move to Hudson’s Detroit. GM purchased the Renaissance Center in May 1996.
“We are proud to remain in the city of Detroit in a modern office building that fits the evolving needs of our workforce, right in the heart of downtown,” says Mary Barra, chair and CEO of GM. “Our new headquarters will provide collaboration areas for our teams, executive offices, and display space for our vehicles.
“Dan Gilbert and Bedrock have done so much to make downtown Detroit a great place to live, work, and visit. We are thrilled to be a significant part of the historic Hudson’s project, and also look forward to working with them to explore new ideas and opportunities for the Renaissance Center site and the riverfront.”
The move to Hudson’s Detroit will mark GM’s return to Woodward Avenue, where it established its first headquarters in the city. GM’s first home in Detroit was at 127-129 Woodward Ave., on the west side of the street between Fort and Congress, where the company resided from 1911-1923.
It relocated to the Albert Kahn-designed General Motors Building at 3044 West Grand Blvd. in 1923, where it remained until the company purchased the Ren Cen. GM initially was formed in 1908 and had its headquarters in New York City.
“For more than a century, General Motors has been synonymous with the city of Detroit, and we warmly welcome them to Hudson’s as they continue to drive the future of innovation and mobility,” says Dan Gilbert, founder and chairman of Bedrock. “I can’t think of a better organization to help define the new legacy of Hudson’s as General Motors continues to shape the way the world moves directly from Woodward Avenue in downtown Detroit.”
Hudson’s Detroit is a 1.5-million-square-foot development that will feature office, ground-floor retail, a five-star hotel, rooftop bar, residential condominiums, a public plaza, parking, and large event spaces. Comprised of a 12-story office building with event and retail spaces, and adjacent 45 floor hotel and residential tower, Hudson’s presents sweeping city views at every level.
“GM has been in the city for more than 100 years and it’s great to see that commitment continue as they move their headquarters to the heart of downtown at Hudson’s Detroit,” says Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan. “Hudson’s Detroit marks a significant development in the city and returns an iconic name back to where it belongs. GM, meanwhile, is already building EVs at its Factory ZERO plant, located here in Detroit. I am equally excited to see what these two great companies imagine when it comes to the future redevelopment of the Renaissance Center.”
The decision to explore redevelopment opportunities for the Renaissance Center site comes at a time when the office real estate market is transforming. Post-pandemic, the work environment has changed the way that office space is utilized. A recent study by CBRE indicated that 80 percent of current office occupiers have adopted or will adopt hybrid work.
“As Detroit and Wayne County continue to drive global growth, knowing that General Motors is committed to staying in the area is reassuring and signals the automaker’s desire and commitment to continue working together to improve our region’s long-term growth and sustainability,” says Warren C. Evans, Wayne County executive. “As businesses invest in their community, the community grows and becomes healthier. The principle of shared value lies at the very heart of economic success. We’re excited that General Motors will remain downtown and move its world headquarters into this landmark development, appropriately named Hudson’s Detroit.”
Once the second-largest department store in the world, J.KL. Hudson’s flagship store in Detroit anchored the Woodward Avenue corridor and was a destination for domestic and international shopping enthusiasts until it closed its doors in 1983. The structure was eventually demolished.
For additional information on Hudson’s Detroit, visit hudsons-detroit.com.
