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List of tallest buildings in Detroit facts for kids

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Detroit Skyline (123143197)
The skyline of Detroit in 2015

This list of tallest buildings in Detroit ranks skyscrapers and high rises in the U.S. city of Detroit, Michigan by height. The tallest skyscraper in Detroit is the 73-story Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center, which rises 727 feet (222 m) along Detroit's International Riverfront. It is the tallest building in the state of Michigan, the 97th-tallest building in the United States, and the second tallest hotel building in the Western Hemisphere. Another famous skyscraper is One Detroit Center, which stands as the 2nd-tallest building in the city and the state.

Detroit's history of skyscrapers began in 1889, with completion of the historic 10-story Hammond Building—considered the city's first steel-framed skyscraper. The Qube in the Detroit Financial District now stands on this site. Detroit witnessed a massive building boom during the Roaring Twenties, resulting in the construction of many of the city's ornate skyscrapers, including the Penobscot, Guardian, Fisher, Buhl, Stott, and Broderick. One Woodward Avenue, which rises 430 feet (131 m), was the tallest building constructed in the city during the 1960s. Detroit is the site of eight skyscrapers at least 492 feet (150 m) in height and twenty-seven at least 327 feet (100 m) in height. Overall, the skyline of Detroit is ranked (based upon existing and under construction buildings over 492 feet (150 m)) third in the Midwestern United States (after Chicago and Minneapolis) and fourteenth in the United States, after New York City, Chicago, Miami, Houston, Los Angeles, Dallas, Atlanta, San Francisco, Boston, Las Vegas, Seattle, Philadelphia, and Minneapolis.

The most recently constructed skyscrapers in the city are One Detroit Center, completed in 1993, and the Greektown Casino Hotel, completed in 2009. The latter rises 348 feet (106 m) and contains 30 floors. The city has received many significant restoration projects, which include the 29 story Westin Book Cadillac Hotel; originally built in 1924 and restored in 2008, it rises 349 feet (106 m). Detroit also has numerous prominent skyscrapers that were never built.

Tallest buildings

This list ranks Detroit skyscrapers that stand at least 300 feet (91 m) tall, based on standard height measurement. This includes spires and architectural details but does not include antenna masts. An equal sign (=) following a rank indicates the same height between two or more buildings. The "Year" column indicates the year a building was completed.

Rank Name Image Height
feet / m
Floors Year Notes
01.01 Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center Renaissance Center, Detroit, Michigan from S 2014-12-07.jpg 727 / 222 73 1977 Tallest building in the city and the state since 1977, 101st-tallest building in the United States. Tallest hotel in the world upon completion; now stands as the second tallest hotel in the Western Hemisphere. Major renovation completed in 2004. The entire complex is owned by General Motors.
02.02 Ally Detroit Center ComericaTowerand1stnationaldetroit.jpg 619 / 189 43 1993 Tallest building completed in Detroit in the 1990s. Former headquarters of Comerica Bank, current headquarters of Ally Financial
03.03 Penobscot Building PenobscotBldgDetroitsunsetting.jpg 565 / 172 47 1928 When completed in 1928, the Penobscot was the world's eighth tallest building. It was the city's tallest from 1928 to 1977. The Penobscot stands at the center of the Detroit Financial District.
04.04= RenCen Tower 100 Ren Cen view from the Riverfront.jpg 522 / 159 39 1977
04.04= RenCen Tower 200 522 / 159 39 1977
04.04= RenCen Tower 300 522 / 159 39 1977
04.04= RenCen Tower 400 522 / 159 39 1977
08.08 Guardian Building Guardianbuilding.jpg 495 / 151 40 1929
09.09 Book Tower Book Tower 2010.jpg 475 / 145 38 1926 In January 2010, developer Key Investment Group reported that it plans a major renovation of the Book Tower.
10.010 150 West Jefferson 150wjeff.jpg 456 / 139 26 1989 Tallest building completed in Detroit in the 1980s. Previously known as the Madden Building.
11.011 Fisher Building Fisher Building Detroit crop.jpg 444 / 135 30 1928
12.012 Cadillac Tower BarlumTowerDetroit.jpg 438 / 133 40 1927
13.013 David Stott Building DavidStottBuilding.jpg 437 / 133 37 1929
14.014 One Woodward Avenue OneWoodwardAvenue.JPG 430 / 131 28 1963 Tallest building completed in the city in the 1960s.
15.015 Patrick V. McNamara Federal Building Patrick V. McNamara Federal Building.jpg 393 / 120 27 1976
16.016 DTE Energy Headquarters DTE-Headquarters-Campus-Improvements-Rear.jpg 375 / 114 25 1971
17.017 David Broderick Tower BroderickTower15.jpg 369 / 113 35 1928 Fully renovated in 2012 as a mixed- use residential building. The project created residential units on floors 5-34, with the lower 4 floors dedicated to retail, entertainment, and office space. Originally known as the Eaton Tower.
18.018 211 West Fort Street 211 Fort Street, detroit.jpg 368 / 112 27 1963
19.019 Buhl Building BuhlBuildingDetroitfromWoodward.jpg 366 / 112 29 1925
20.020 Westin Book Cadillac Hotel WestinBookCadillac.jpg 349 / 106 29 1924 Tallest hotel in the world upon completion in 1924 and restored in 2008.
2121 Greektown Casino Hotel Greektownnew2.jpg 348 / 106 30 2009 Tallest building completed in Detroit in the 2000s.
22.022 First National Building 1stNationalBldgingdetroit.jpg 341 / 104 26 1930 Tallest building completed in Detroit in the 1930s.
23.023= RenCen Tower 500 Ren Cen Towers 500 and 600.jpg 339 / 103 21 1981
24.023= RenCen Tower 600 339 / 103 21 1981
25.025 1001 Woodward 1001WoodwardfromCampusMartuis.jpg 338 / 103 23 1965
26.026 Renaissance City Apartments Courtyard by Marriott - Downtown Detroit.jpg 332 / 101 33 1985
27.027 AT&T Building Addition At and t addition Detroit.jpg 327 / 100 17 1974
28.028 Chrysler House DimeBuildingDetroit.jpg 324 / 99 23 1912
29.029 Jeffersonian Apartments DetroitJeffersonianapts.jpg 322 / 98 30 1965
30.030 AT&T Building AT&TbuildingDetroit.jpg 319 / 97 19 1927
31.031= Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Building BlueCrossBuildingonLafayetteDetroit.jpg 318 / 97 22 1971
32.031= Coleman A. Young Municipal Center CAYMC.jpg 318 / 97 20 1954 Tallest building completed in the city in the 1950s.
33.033 Penobscot Building Annex 310 / 95 23 1913
34.034= 1300 Lafayette East Cooperative 1300 Lafayette East Cooperative.jpg 305 / 93 29 1961
35.034= Riverfront Tower 300 RiverfrontApartmentsDetroitIthruIII.jpg 305 / 93 29 1983
36.034= Riverfront Tower 200 305 / 93 29 1983

Tallest buildings by pinnacle height

Renaissance Center, Detroit, Michigan from S 2014-12-07
Downtown Detroit's Renaissance Center in 2014

This list ranks Detroit skyscrapers based on their pinnacle height, which includes radio masts and antennas. As architectural features and spires can be regarded as subjective, some skyscraper enthusiasts prefer this method of measurement. Standard architectural height measurement, which excludes antennas in building height, is included for comparative purposes.

Rank Name Pinnacle height
feet / m
Standard height
feet / m
Reference
1 Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center 755 / 230 727 / 222
2 Penobscot Building 664 / 202 565 / 172
3 Guardian Building 632 / 193 495 / 151
4 One Detroit Center 619 / 189 619 / 189
5 Cadillac Tower 578 / 176 438 / 133
6= Renaissance Center Tower 100 522 / 159 522 / 159
6= Renaissance Center Tower 200 522 / 159 522 / 159
6= Renaissance Center Tower 300 522 / 159 522 / 159
6= Renaissance Center Tower 400 522 / 159 522 / 159
10 Fisher Building 489 / 135 444 / 135

Tallest proposed or under construction

Tallest under construction

Rank Name Image Height
feet / m
Floors Year Notes
1 Hudson's Site Development 680/207 Groundbreaking occurred on December 14, 2017.
2 Monroe Blocks - Office Tower 536 / 163 ?? 35 ? 2022 ? Groundbreaking occurred on December 13, 2018.
3 Monroe Blocks - Residential Tower 335 / 102 ?? 20 ? 2022 ? Groundbreaking occurred on December 13, 2018.
4 Huntington Tower 311 / 95 20 2022 Will be offices of merged TCF Bank and Huntington Bank

Tallest proposed

Rank Name Image Height
feet / m
Floors Year Notes
1 Michigan Opera Tower 480/146 ? ? Paused as of January 31, 2020

Tallest cancelled

Rank Name Image Height
feet / m
Floors Year Notes
1 Book Tower II 900/274 81 Cancelled due to Great Depression
2 Fisher Building Center Tower 750 ? 60 Cancelled due to Great Depression

Timeline of tallest buildings

DavidStottsitsamongDetroittowers
The Penobscot Building in 2007; it is the city's third tallest building and rises above the Detroit Financial District.

This lists buildings that once held the title of tallest building in Detroit. For most of Detroit's earlier years, the tallest buildings in the city were churches and government buildings with their steeples. The first skyscraper in the city is usually considered the Hammond Building, completed in 1889. However, since the 10-story building did not surpass the steeple of the Fort Street Presbyterian Church, it never became a city record holder. The first skyscraper to have the distinction of being Detroit's tallest building was the Ford Building, completed in 1909.

Name Street address Years as tallest Height
feet / m
Floors Reference
First Michigan State Capitol Capitol Park 1828–1866 140 / 43 2
Most Holy Trinity Church 1050 Porter Street 1866–1871 170 / 52 1
Former Detroit City Hall Campus Martius Park 1871–1877 200 / 61 4
St. Joseph Church 1828 Jay Street 1873–1877 200 / 61 1
Fort Street Presbyterian Church 631 West Fort Street 1877–1909 265 / 81 1
Ford Building 615 Griswold Street 1909–1913 275 / 84 19
Penobscot Building Annex 144 West Congress Street 1913 310 / 95 23
Chrysler House 719 Griswold Street 1913–1924 324 / 99 23
Book Cadillac Hotel 220 Michigan Avenue 1924–1925 349 / 106 29
Buhl Building 535 Griswold Street 1925–1926 366 / 112 29
Book Tower 1265 Washington Boulevard 1926–1928 475 / 145 38
Penobscot Building 633 Griswold Street 1928–1977 565 / 172 47
Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center 1 Renaissance Center Drive 1977–present 727 / 222 73

Tallest buildings in Detroit's suburban cities

This list ranks buildings in Detroit's suburban municipalities that stand at least 200 feet (61 m) tall, based on standard height measurement. Existing structures are included for ranking purposes based on present height.

Rank Name Image Location Height
feet / m
Floors Year Notes
1 3000 Town Center Southfield Town Center 3000.jpg Southfield 402 / 122 32 1975 The 15th tallest skyscraper in Metro Detroit.
2 1000 Town Center Southfield Town Center 1000.jpg Southfield 395 / 120 28 1989
3 2000 Town Center Southfield Town Center 2000.jpg Southfield 370 / 113 28 1986
4 Top of Troy Building Topoftroy2007.JPG Troy 346 / 106 25 1974
5 American Center AmericanCenter2.jpg Southfield 331 / 101 26 1975
6 5000 Town Center Southfield Town Center 5000.jpg Southfield 328 / 100 33 1983 A residential skyscraper
7 4000 Town Center Southfield Town Center 4000.jpg Southfield 270 / 82 20 1979
8 Tower Plaza TowerPlaza45.JPG Ann Arbor 267 / 82 26 1969 A residential high-rise, Tower Plaza is Ann Arbor's tallest building.
9 Shore Club Skytower Shore Club Apartment Tower Saint Clair Shores Michigan.jpeg St. Clair Shores 260 / 79 26 1965
10 Travelers Tower I Southfield 256 / 78 18 1971
11 One Towne Square One Towne Square Southfield.jpg Southfield 253 / 77 21 1992
12 Chrysler Headquarters Chrysler Headquarters Auburn Hills 20060624.jpg Auburn Hills 249 / 76 15 1996
13 St. Florian Catholic Church St Florian Catholic Church - Hamtramck Michigan.jpg Hamtramck 247 / 75 1 1928
14 Mott Foundation Building Flint July 2018 23 (Charles Stewart Mott Foundation Building - Union Industrial Bank Building).jpg Flint 226 / 69 19 1930 Tallest building in Flint.
15 Macomb County Building Mount Clemens 219 / 67 13 1944 Tallest building in Macomb County.
16= Park Lane Towers West Parklane Towers Dearborn Michigan.JPG Dearborn 213 / 65 15 1973
16= Park Lane Towers East Dearborn 213 / 65 15 1971
16= Adoba Hotel HyattRegencyDearborn1.jpg Dearborn 213 / 65 14 1976
19 Burton Memorial Tower Ann Arbor 212 / 65 10 1936
20= SBC Publishing Building Troy 207 / 63 16 1983
20= 100 North Center Troy 207 / 63 15 1983
22 University Towers University Towers facing S. Forest.JPG Ann Arbor 205 / 62 19 1960
23 Southfield Centre Southfield 201 / 61 14 1976
24 Southgate Tower SouthgateTower.JPG Southgate 200 / 61 13 1973 Tallest building in Downriver and the tallest building between Detroit and Toledo, Ohio.
A. ^ General Motors, the owner of the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center, maintains that the building has 73 floors. Hines Interests, the property management firm for the building, gives a floor count of 74, while architect Skidmore, Owings and Merrill gives a floor count of 75. Emporis and other building database sites usually give the floor count as 70, while other sources state 73 stories. This table uses the floor count of 73 as stated officially by the building's owner.
B. New York has 216 existing and under construction buildings over 492 feet (150 m), Chicago has 114, Miami has 32, Houston has 31, Los Angeles has 26, Dallas has 20, San Francisco has 21, Atlanta has 19, Boston has 19, Las Vegas has 16, Seattle has 15, Philadelphia has 15, Minneapolis has 11, Pittsburgh has 10, Jersey City has 9, Detroit has 8, Denver has 7. Source of Skyline ranking information: SkyscraperPage.com diagrams: New York City, Chicago, Miami, Houston, Los Angeles, Dallas, Atlanta, San Francisco, Boston, Las Vegas, Seattle, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Jersey City, Minneapolis, Detroit, Denver.
C. The capitol of Michigan was relocated to Lansing in 1847, and the original capitol building was destroyed in a fire in 1893.
D. This building was destroyed in 1961.
E. ^ St. Joseph Church, completed in 1873, tied the height of the Detroit City Hall. The city therefore had two tallest buildings for a period of 4 years, until the Fort Street Presbyterian Church was completed in 1877.
F. This building was constructed as the Book-Cadillac Hotel, but is now officially known as the Westin Book-Cadillac Hotel.
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See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Anexo:Edificios más altos de Detroit para niños

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