• GM will become the anchor tenant at Bedrock’s Hudson’s Detroit development.
• GM, Bedrock, the city of Detroit, and Wayne County will establish a partnership to explore redevelopment opportunities for the Renaissance Center site.
Conceptual rendering of Hudson’s Detroit with GM branding. (Provided by GM Design)
DETROIT – General Motors will relocate its global headquarters 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. The move marks GM’s fourth headquarters location in the city since 1911, reaffirming its longstanding commitment to Detroit. GM, 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 before GM’s move to Hudson’s Detroit.
“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,” said GM Chair and CEO Mary Barra. “Our new headquarters will provide collaboration areas for our teams, executive offices, and display space for our vehicles.”
The move to Hudson’s Detroit will mark the return of General Motors to Woodward Avenue, where it established its first headquarters in the city. GM has entered into an initial 15-year, multi-level lease for the top office floors of the state-of-the-art office building and showcase space on the street level for GM vehicles and community activations.
Conceptual rendering of GM office space at Hudson’s Detroit. (Provided by GM Design)
What is Hudson’s?
Hudson’s Detroit is a 1.5-million-square-foot development that will feature office space, ground-floor retail, a 5-star hotel, a rooftop bar, residential condominiums, a public plaza, parking, and large event spaces. It consists of a 12-story office building with event and retail spaces and an adjacent 45-story hotel and residential tower, and it presents sweeping city views at every level.
The Hudson’s department store, known as the “Big Store” and “J.L. Hudson,” broke ground in 1891 and was the foremost retailer in Detroit. At one time, it was the second-largest department store in the world. The massive flagship store anchored the bustling Woodward Avenue corridor and was a domestic and international shopping destination until it closed its doors in 1983. The structure was eventually demolished, but Bedrock has ensured that the site’s history is echoed in the new Hudson’s Detroit.
For additional information on Hudson’s Detroit, please visit Hudsons-Detroit.
Conceptual rendering of GM’s street-level showcase at Hudson’s Detroit. (Provided by GM Design)
Renaissance Center
The decision to explore redevelopment opportunities for the Renaissance Center site comes as the office real estate market transforms. Post-pandemic, the work environment has changed how office space is utilized. A recent study by CBRE indicated that 80 percent of current office occupiers have adopted or will adopt hybrid work.
When General Motors acquired the Renaissance Center in 1996 it was a catalyst for the revitalization of the city and the transformation of the Detroit riverfront. The development of GM Plaza was the genesis of the private-public Detroit Riverfront Conservancy. The transformation provided expansive public access to the Detroit River for the first time.
Photo of GM World in 2018, located in the Renaissance Center in Detroit. (GM photo)
GM’s continuous improvements have bolstered the Renaissance Center area and RiverWalk, totaling more than $1 billion in investment since 1996.
The initial $500 million Renaissance Center renovation was designed to make the site more accessible to the community. This included removing the external concrete towers that limited entry from Jefferson Avenue. Interior improvements were made to ease navigation, including a central glass circulation ring and the addition of the Wintergarden. From this space, visitors and workers could enjoy panoramic views of the Detroit River.
GM developed the first phase of the Detroit International RiverWalk in partnership with the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy. The project built some of the most popular places on the riverfront, including the GM Fountain, GM Plaza, and the Wintergarden. More than 3.5 million people visit the riverfront each year. USA TODAY named the Detroit RiverWalk “Best in America” in 2021, 2022, and 2023.
The Albert Kahn-designed Durant Building circa 1980s, later renamed the General Motors Building. (GM photo)
GM and Detroit
General Motors invested $2.2 billion in Factory ZERO (formerly the Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly Center) in November 2020 for retooling and upgrades.
Factory ZERO builds several Ultium-powered EVs, including:
- GMC HUMMER EV Pickup and SUV,
- Chevrolet Silverado EV WT,
- The upcoming Silverado EV RST, GMC Sierra Denali EV, and Cadillac Escalade IQ.
Built in 1985, the assembly center has manufactured more than 3 million vehicles. Today, it has become one of the most modern automotive plants in the country, with nearly 4,000 employees.
Over the last decade, GM has awarded more than $117 million in grants to support Detroit-based nonprofit programs. Centered around Detroit’s people and places, GM prioritizes funding toward education, workforce development, and neighborhood revitalization efforts.
Front view of GM’s first Detroit headquarters circa early 1900s, located at 127-129 Woodward Avenue. (Photo provided by GM)
GM’s first home in Detroit was at 127-129 Woodward Avenue. It was along the west side of the street between Fort and Congress, where the company resided from 1911 to 1923. In 1923, GM relocated to the Albert Kahn-designed General Motors Building at 3044 West Grand Boulevard. It remained there until the company purchased the Renaissance Center in 1996.
The financial terms of the transaction between GM and Bedrock will not be disclosed.
