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Detroit is the largest city in the U.S state of Michigan, with a metropolitan area population of 4.4 million as of 2025. Detroit is home to 39 buildings taller than 300 feet (91 m), nine of which are skyscrapers with a height of 492 ft (150 m). Detroit has one of the largest skylines in the Midwestern United States, with the third most skyscrapers above 492 ft (150 m) in the region, after Chicago and Minneapolis. The tallest skyscraper in Detroit is the 70-story Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center, which rises 727 ft (221.5 m) along the Detroit International Riverfront in the city's downtown.[A][1] The skyscraper is one of seven towers in the Renaissance Center complex, which has served as the headquarters of General Motors since 1996, reflecting the city's role in the automotive industry. The Detroit Marriott is the tallest building in Michigan and was the tallest hotel building in the world upon completion in 1977; it is currently the third tallest in the Western Hemisphere.
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.[2] Detroit grew to become the fourth-largest city in the United States by the 1920s, and witnessed a massive building boom during the Roaring Twenties. Many ornate skyscrapers were build during this period, including the Penobscot, Guardian, Fisher, Buhl, and David Stott buildings.[3] This resulted in Detroit having one of the world's largest skylines at the time outside of New York City and Chicago. By 1930, the city had thirteen 300-foot buildings. The Great Depression brought an end to the boom.
Deindustrialization and suburbanization affected the growth of Detroit's skyline in the second half of the 20th century, as the city's population peaked in the 1950 census and subsequently declined. Despite this, a further 21 buildings taller than 300 ft (91 m) were completed from 1960 to 1991. This included the postmodernAlly Detroit Center, Detroit's third-tallest building, and the Renaissance Center (RenCen), which was developed as an urban renewal project aimed to address the city's decline. Downtown Detroit has been undergoing revitalization in the 21st century, bringing with it several significant restoration projects of old high-rises and several new ones. Hudson's Detroit, the city's second tallest building at 680 feet (207 m), was completed in 2025.
Most of Detroit's tall buildings are located in the city's downtown, immediately north of the Detroit River, which separates Detroit from the downtown of the city of Windsor, Canada. The Detroit–Windsor transborder agglomeration is one of few locations where high-rises in two countries are visible together. Going northwards from downtown along Woodward Avenue, shorter high-rises are scattered in the neighborhoods of Midtown, Medical Center, and New Center. The Fisher Building in New Center is Detroit's 12th tallest building. Residential towers are also sparsely found near the riverfront, east of downtown. In Metro Detroit, the city of Southfield contains a small high-rise cluster in Southfield Town Center, with a small number of towers in Pontiac and Troy. Ford and Chrysler, the rest of the Big Three automobile manufacturers, are headquartered in high-rises in the cities of Dearborn and Auburn Hills, respectively.
History
Number of buildings by height in Detroit by the end of each year, based on the information in this article. Click on the legend to toggle a specific height on or off. View chart definition.
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.[2] It was followed by the Savings Bank Building in 1895, the Majestic Building in 1896, and the Union Trust Building in 1896.
Deindustrialization and suburbanization affected the growth of Detroit's skyline in the second half of the 20th century, as the city's population peaked in the 1950 census and subsequently declined. Despite this, a further 21 buildings taller than 300 ft (91 m) were completed from 1960 to 1991. This included the postmodernAlly Detroit Center, Detroit's third-tallest building, and the Renaissance Center (RenCen), which was developed as an urban renewal project aimed to address the city's decline. The five original towers, completed in 1977, make up five of the nine skyscrapers taller than 492 ft (150 m) in Detroit. Two shorter towers were added in 1981. Downtown Detroit has been undergoing revitalization in the 21st century, bringing with it many significant restoration projects and new high-rises. Hudson's Detroit, the city's second tallest building, was completed in 2025.
Downtown Detroit has been undergoing revitalization in the 21st century, bringing with it many significant restoration projects, such as that of the Westin Book Cadillac Hotel. New high-rises include Hollywood Casino at Greektown, a casino hotel, in 2009, and eXchange, the first high-rise in the U.S to be constructed using a "top-down" method, in 2023.[4][5]Hudson's Detroit, the city's second tallest building, was completed in 2025. General Motors plans to move its headquarters from the RenCen to Hudson's Detroit,[6][7] leaving two of the skyscrapers at RenCen at risk of demolition.[8]
Cityscape
The Detroit skyline from Windsor in 2025 (Click or hover over image to identify buildings)
Map of tallest buildings
The map below shows the location of buildings taller than 300 feet (91 m) in Downtown Detroit. Each marker is numbered by the building's height rank, and colored by the decade of its completion. Of the buildings taller than 300 feet (91 m) in Detroit, two are not visible on the map: The Fisher Building, and Jeffersonian Apartments.
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Buildings taller than 300 feet (91 m) in Downtown Detroit. An asterisk (*) next to the building's name indicates it is located outside the map.
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. The "Year" column indicates the year a building was completed.
Was the tallest building in Detroit upon completion
Tallest building in the city and the state since 1977, 161st-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.[1][9] The entire complex is owned by General Motors.
When completed in 1928, the Penobscot was the world's eighth tallest building. It was the city's tallest from 1928 to 1977.[16][17] The Penobscot stands at the center of the Detroit Financial District. Designed by local American architect Wirt C. Rowland.
Originally an office building. The Book Tower and the adjoining 13-story Book Building underwent a nearly $400 million renovation, re-opening in 2023 as a mixed residential and retail/office space.[28]
Fully renovated in 2012 as a mixed-use, primarily 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.[43][44]
Originally known as the Book-Cadillac Hotel, it was the tallest hotel in the world upon completion in 1924. Closed in 1984 due to financial issues. The hotel was restored and reopened in 2008, with some space being converted to residential use.[49][50]
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. As the pinnacle height of Hudson's Detroit has not been determined, it is not ranked below.
This list ranks buildings in Detroit's suburban municipalities that stand at least 300 feet (91 m) tall, based on standard height measurement. There are six such buildings, five in Southfield, and the remaining building in Troy. This list does not include buildings in Windsor, Canada.
This table lists under construction buildings in Detroit that are planned to be at least 300 ft (91 m) tall as of 2025. Estimated figures are indicated by an asterisk (*). A dash "–" indicates information about the development is unknown or is not publicly available.
This table lists approved and proposed buildings in Detroit that are planned to be at least 300 ft (91 m) tall as of 2025. Estimated figures are indicated by an asterisk (*). A dash "–" indicates information about the development is unknown or is not publicly available.
Groundbreaking on Phase 1 of Monroe Blocks began on December 13, 2018. As of May 2021, the project remains largely undeveloped and alternative uses are being planned for the site.[88]
Monroe Blocks - Residential Tower
335 (102)*
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Groundbreaking on Phase 1 of Monroe Blocks began on December 13, 2018.[88]
Tallest demolished
Detroit was home to one building that once stood taller than 300 feet (91 m) and now no longer exists.
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.[2] 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.[90]
A. ^ abcGeneral Motors, the owner of the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center, maintains that the building has 73 floors.[97] Hines Interests, the property management firm for the building, gives a floor count of 74,[98] while architect Skidmore, Owings and Merrill gives a floor count of 75.[99] The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, Emporis, and other building database sites usually give the floor count as 70,[1][100] while other sources state 73 stories.[101] This table uses the floor count of 70, as stated officially by online building databases.
B.^The capitol of Michigan was relocated to Lansing in 1847, and the original capitol building was destroyed in a fire in 1893.
D. ^ abSt. 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.
E.^This building was constructed as the Book-Cadillac Hotel, but is now officially known as the Westin Book-Cadillac Hotel.
References
General
"Detroit". Emporis.com. Archived from the original on September 18, 2004. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
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