American Center Explained

American Center
Completion Date:	1975 (Renovated 2001)
Building Type:	office/retail
Location:	Southfield-Detroit, United States
Coordinates:	42.49°N -83.2989°W
Roof:	100.9m (331feet)
Antenna Spire:	104.7m (343.5feet)
Floor Count:	26
Owner:	REDICO
Floor Area:	500000square feet
Architect:	SmithGroup

The American Center is a high-rise tower in the Metro Detroit suburb of Southfield, Michigan, built in 1975 as the corporate headquarters for the automaker American Motors Corporation (AMC), which was subsequently acquired by Chrysler Corporation in 1987.^[1] The building is located adjacent to Interstate 696, M-10, and US 24 interchange.

Upgraded in 2001, the office tower has 27 floors, including a basement, and has been owned and managed since 2017 by Redico, a Southfield-based real estate developer.^[2]

Architecture

The structural system consists of trussed steel frame.^[3] Designed as a modern architecture tower, the curtain wall facade was originally golden glass. The tower is square in plan, with chamfered corners. The elevator core is unusual in that it is rotated 45 degrees relative to the tower's axis. The building also includes a parking garage and retail spaces. It has a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) "Certified Silver" designation.

Development

AMC announced in 1973 that it would move to a new building in Southfield, the American Motors Corporation Office Building.^[4] In 1975 AMC moved its corporate offices to the glass-and-steel skyscraper in Southfield, joining the exodus of companies from Detroit.^[5] The company continued its automotive design and engineering operations at its historic Plymouth Road complex (14250 Plymouth Road) in Detroit, as Chrysler did for a time after acquiring AMC.^[6]

After the acquisition, Chrysler Financial occupied 10 floors of the 25-story building 175000square feet, and the Michigan Court of Appeals occupied approximately 33500square feet.^[7]

The building was owned by Charter One Bank (which as of 2004 was owned by Citizens Financial Group.^[8]

See also

• Architecture of metropolitan Detroit
• Southfield Town Center

Sources

• Book: Fisher, Dale. Southeast Michigan: Horizons of Growth . 2005 . Eyry of the Eagle Publishing . 9781891143250.
• Book: Meyer, Katherine Mattingly . Martin C.P. . McElroy . Detroit Architecture: A.I.A Guide (American Institute of Architects Guide Series) . Revised . 1980 . Wayne State University Press . 9780814316511 . registration .

External links

• Google Maps location of American Center
• Google Maps location of the Mixing Bowl

Notes and References

1. News: Risen. James . Chrysler Plans to Buy AMC for $757 Million: Reaches Accord on Purchasing Renault's 46.1% Interest; Wants Jeep, Assembly Plants, Dealers . The Los Angeles Times . 10 March 1987 . 17 November 2017.
2. Web site: American Center . Redico . January 2017 . 17 November 2017.
3. Web site: American Center, Southfield . https://web.archive.org/web/20150410184948/http://www.emporis.com/buildings/129625/american-center-southfield-mi-usa . dead . April 10, 2015 . Emporis . 17 November 2017.
4. Web site: AMC Headquarters . Detroiturbex . 17 November 2017.
5. News: Lee . Ardelia . From Bustling Factory To Abandoned Eyesore: The Story Of The Old AMC Headquarters In Detroit . Daily Detroit . 9 August 2016 . 17 November 2017.
6. Smith . David C. . American Motors' Former HQ for $500? . Wards Auto . 29 October 2015 . 17 November 2017.
7. Web site: King . Jenny . Detroit: not just another pretty face, the Motor City and southeast Michigan offer stability, opportunity for growth . Nreionline.com . 1 August 1995 . 17 November 2010.
8. Web site: The American Motors Building . Michigan Exposures . 7 May 2011 . 17 November 2017.