GM illuminates tops of RENCEN's four towers.

**skylineluvr** · April-07-11, 05:48 PM

I was Downtown this morning and noticed that the northeast tower as well as the ring below the GM logo were illuminated with LED lighting that is common in major sports arenas. I also saw where these light rings were being installed on the other towers. Does anyone have any further information on the scope of this new lighting on the RENCEN as it will have a dramatic effect on the skyline at night. Thanks!

**BVos** · April-07-11, 08:56 PM

Or a discussion on their tackiness?

**Guideboat** · April-07-11, 09:12 PM

Saw them today. They are tacky in the extreme. I hope they were intentionally going for a "sign store" or "casino" look. They are not an improvement. I fear they will start to run messages around them, as well.

lilpup · April-07-11, 09:13 PM

maybe they'll run little cars around them

**yupislyr** · April-07-11, 09:27 PM

The sign on central tower certainly stands out more on this side of the river.

This article has some pictures of what it will look like for opening day and the weekend: http://www.freep.com/article/2011040...ps-Opening-Day

DetroitDad · April-07-11, 09:44 PM

They have also added new lighting in front of the building, and new lighting walls on the interior. Also, inside is the new nightspot; Volt. Falling stars trickle down the windows overlooking the Detroit River.
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**jtf1972** · April-07-11, 10:18 PM

Originally Posted by Guideboat

I fear they will start to run messages around them, as well.

"Buy Ford?"

DetroitDad · April-07-11, 10:59 PM

This will certainly give Jefferson Avenue and Hart Plaza, a greater sense of excitement when COBO's new lighting and video screen is complete.

**Magnatomicflux** · April-07-11, 11:09 PM

You guys don't like'em? I think the one on the main tower looks great from over in Windsor. One of the windows in my apartment frames the RenCen and I think it looks really good. OH.....I just looked over there from work right now and its RED! er........I didn't know it was doing that....sorry lol.

Anyways...I think it looks good. Brings the tower some life.

**CLAUDE G** · April-07-11, 11:37 PM

I saw it tonight. It looks good

**Marc** · April-08-11, 12:25 AM

I think the GM tower looks good but the top of the others look like slap bracelets

**downtownguy** · April-08-11, 07:13 AM

Already discussed on this thread.

http://www.detroityes.com/mb/showthr...ne-looks-great

Someone on that thread said they thought they were only going to light the office towers closest Jefferson. Seems to me, it should be all or nothing. Personally, I like them, especially if they get creative with the rhythm and rotation of colors.

**downtownguy** · April-08-11, 07:15 AM

Originally Posted by DetroitDad

They have also added new lighting in front of the building, and new lighting walls on the interior. Also, inside is the new nightspot; Volt. Falling stars trickle down the windows overlooking the Detroit River.

Volt's been open for some time. At least a year, perhaps longer.

**stinkytofu** · April-08-11, 07:44 AM

Came up Woodward this morning and will say seeing a big old-fashioned D on our tallest building on Opening Day is pretty badass.

**mam2009** · April-08-11, 07:57 AM

I thought that "D" was pretty cool too! One of the towers also lit up with the Tigers blue & orange colors while the D was illuminated. I dont think it looks tacky at all. Its not oversized. Its kind of subtle & updates the building a bit.

bartock · April-08-11, 07:58 AM

Originally Posted by stinkytofu

Came up Woodward this morning and will say seeing a big old-fashioned D on our tallest building on Opening Day is pretty badass.

I think it looks great. I like the LED blue, on a typical damp, dark, overcast day, it reminds you of what the sky looks like.

Anyone know what they are doing on the west tower? There are like four floors near the top full of lights. Renovation, maybe?

**Detroitej72** · April-08-11, 08:07 AM

It gives downtown a distinct look.

I saw it from Mound and 13 Mile this morning through the rain and mist. That's pretty cool!

**midtown1982** · April-08-11, 08:12 AM

Originally Posted by bartock

I think it looks great. I like the LED blue, on a typical damp, dark, overcast day, it reminds you of what the sky looks like.

Anyone know what they are doing on the west tower? There are like four floors near the top full of lights. Renovation, maybe?

They are doing some sort of buildout on those floors. Not sure who the tenant is.

**esp1986** · April-08-11, 08:14 AM

Originally Posted by downtownguy

Already discussed on this thread.

http://www.detroityes.com/mb/showthr...ne-looks-great

Someone on that thread said they thought they were only going to light the office towers closest Jefferson. Seems to me, it should be all or nothing. Personally, I like them, especially if they get creative with the rhythm and rotation of colors.

An article I read from one of the news outlets said that they would light up the three towers facing the city, meaning not the waterfront ones. I thought it was dumb myself. However, it was in the same article that said they would only be replacing the one 'GM' sign that also faced the city, and we can already see that they decided 'all-or-nothing' there. There is every possibilty that they decided to do all of them for the sake of not half-assing it like they have so many things in the past.

I think it's a welcomed addition to the downtown skyline. Almost every other major city in the country has their modern glass towers lit up with LEDs. Even though there really wasn't a lot they could do to "spice-up" the towers, this is better than nothing. It's a welcomed change to see more buildings lit up when so many have gone dark even in the past 10 years.

**GOAT** · April-08-11, 09:15 AM

A few of the other towers have the ring around the top lit up as well andit can be seen from the Windsor side.
I was surprised to see that the colour changed from blue to red to green. I really like it. It brings the look of Detroit into the 21st century.

**izzyindetroit** · April-08-11, 09:18 AM

The ring on the Marriott Tower was stripped orange and black this morning, and the GM logo was replaced with the Tiger's D.

Happy opening day!

**stasu1213** · April-09-11, 04:32 AM

One of the managers who work in the area where the cars are on display on the lower level had said that advertisment will display on the LED screen on top of the center tower. It will display commercial later this year. They are trying to work the bugs out of it

**downtownguy** · April-09-11, 07:34 AM

As impressive as it is, the GM logo/Old English D sign on the Marriott tower still looks relatively small from street level, especially when scaled against the height of the tower. I'd be surprised if they could run any type of ad that could be seen well on it.

**downtownguy** · April-09-11, 07:41 AM

I noticed yesterday that the red Marriott logo sign was lit up again on the northwest office tower. It is superimposed over the LED ring, so they probably had to turn it off during the installation.

I always enjoyed the irony that GM, which occupies the office towers, has its logo on the Marriott tower, and Marriott has its logo on GM's office tower. It pays to be the owner.