PwC plans to move 650 employees to One Detroit Center building

**MSUguy** · May-02-12, 02:15 PM

In a major downtown real estate deal, some 650 employees of the PwC US accounting and consulting firm will move later this year from their office home near Ford Field to the One Detroit Center office tower in downtown’s financial district.
David Breen, managing partner of PwC’s Greater Michigan market, said the firm will take up to three floors in One Detroit Center and will have some naming rights in its new location.

We did an exhaustive look,” Breen said today. “There were probably half a dozen buildings downtown that had that much space. And a few of them had the kind of space we could use…. It came down to a few of the newer buildings downtown and in the suburbs that could accommodate our floor plan. We chose Detroit over the suburbs. “

http://www.freep.com/article/2012050...text|FRONTPAGE

While these aren't new employees coming into the city it's far better to have in them in the heart of downtown rather than tucked away behind Ford Field.

**313WX** · May-02-12, 02:19 PM

So what's going to happen with the building they're moving from?

**bailey** · May-02-12, 02:27 PM

Originally Posted by 313WX

So what's going to happen with the building they're moving from?

Not only that, but someone correct me if I'm wrong, but wasnt that building [[the one they are abandoning) built expressly FOR PWC in the first place?

**401don** · May-02-12, 02:45 PM

I thought it was strange when they built a standalone building for them in the first place. They could have just moved into Ford Field with its tons of empty space if they wanted to be over there. Now 6 yrs. later they get an even better deal at One Detroit Center.

**bailey** · May-02-12, 03:17 PM

Originally Posted by 401don

I thought it was strange when they built a standalone building for them in the first place. They could have just moved into Ford Field with its tons of empty space if they wanted to be over there. Now 6 yrs. later they get an even better deal at One Detroit Center.

Crains has a blurb with a little more detail. Sounds like the new jail going up nextdoor was a large contributor to the move. Still, they were the first and only tenant in that building since its construction until recently when the second tenant moved in. When they leave it will be 90% empty.

**Flintoid** · May-02-12, 03:28 PM

This is a logical move for PWC. Even without the jail there, that building is a little slice of suburbia in the city [[and that's no compliment). It's bordered on three sides by the freeway, a parking lot and garage, and the stadium. Not a very walkable part of downtown by any means. By moving to One Detroit Center, they are now two blocks from Campus Martius, a few blocks from the RenCen and Riverwalk, and right in the thick of dowtown rather than off to the side. I have a cousin who works for PWC and we both never understood why they chose to locate in that building. This is good news to me. Let's get One Detroit Center filled back up!

**Scottathew** · May-02-12, 03:32 PM

Shifting more things onto Woodward will help what's been happening in the core of downtown.

I think it's a slight-win for Downtown.

**Mind field** · May-02-12, 09:40 PM

It must have been the new exterior lighting on One Detroit Center that sealed the deal. Let's get this amazing tower back to 100% occupancy!

**wolverine** · May-02-12, 09:44 PM

Originally Posted by 48091

Shifting more things onto Woodward will help what's been happening in the core of downtown.

I think it's a slight-win for Downtown.

I agree. And I think the PWC building will fill up quickly since it's new. But it's best to reshuffle the deck where you can concentrate employees and build out from there.

**ismoakrack** · May-03-12, 01:30 AM

"It must have been the new exterior lighting on One Detroit Center that sealed the deal."

Lol I am a big fan of them new lights

They are a fabulous addition to the skyline.

**downtownguy** · May-03-12, 09:08 AM

Originally Posted by Flintoid

I have a cousin who works for PWC and we both never understood why they chose to locate in that building.

PWC, and their former nom de guerre Price Waterhouse Coopers, has been the independent auditor of Ford Motor Company since 1956. Prior to relocating to the St. Antoine address in 2005, they were in the Ren Cen. I don't know if they were one of the original tenants, but I wouldn't be surprised if they moved into the Ren Cen as a favor to Henry Ford II, and also to St. Antoine to generate more goodwill with the company and/or family. It probably didn't look too good to be renting space in the Ren Cen from GM either. Could be that their lease was up and they felt confident enough with their relationship with Ford to move to One Detroit Center where they could have a higher profile.

**Hermod** · May-03-12, 10:48 AM

Originally Posted by downtownguy

PWC, and their former nom de guerre Price Waterhouse Coopers, has been the independent auditor of Ford Motor Company since 1956. Prior to relocating to the St. Antoine address in 2005, they were in the Ren Cen. I don't know if they were one of the original tenants, but I wouldn't be surprised if they moved into the Ren Cen as a favor to Henry Ford II, and also to St. Antoine to generate more goodwill with the company and/or family. It probably didn't look too good to be renting space in the Ren Cen from GM either. Could be that their lease was up and they felt confident enough with their relationship with Ford to move to One Detroit Center where they could have a higher profile.

Coopers & Lybrand moved into the RenCen after having their arm economically twisted by Henry the Deuce. They still maintained a large presence out in Troy.

**Detroitnut** · May-06-12, 10:56 AM

Building a huge jail at one of the main arteries into downtown Detroit...Brilliant! When I saw that, I almost cried. Help us help you Detroit!

**Gistok** · May-06-12, 11:12 AM

Originally Posted by Detroitnut

Building a huge jail at one of the main arteries into downtown Detroit...Brilliant! When I saw that, I almost cried. Help us help you Detroit!

You do realize that right next door to this property [[along Gratiot) is the City Jail... with huge quantities of barbed wire showing its' ugly head along Gratiot??

And right behind this property is the Juvenile Justice Center... and kitty-corner to that is the County Jail. With 3 of 4 blocks in that area devoted to detention... why wouldn't the 4th block be ideal for such a use? I always wondered why Greektown Casino originally wanted this site for their permanent casino... surrounded on 3 sides by correctional facilities??

**BasementBeat** · May-06-12, 11:12 AM

Originally Posted by Detroitnut

Building a huge jail at one of the main arteries into downtown Detroit...Brilliant! When I saw that, I almost cried. Help us help you Detroit!

On the bright side, if you break the law, you get a studio apartment downtown with a GREAT view. Certainly will be a better view than the far end of the Greektown Hotel will have now.

**DetroitPlanner** · May-06-12, 10:10 PM

To be fair there already is a huge jail on Gratiot as you enter downtown. This will just make it larger. For as many folks as complain about ugly parking lots on this thread you think they would be cheering this.