John Portmans General Motors Renaissance Center has cast shadows over Downtown Detroit for decades. Since 1976, the five towers, replete with quintessential Portmanian atria, stacked atop a gargantuan base have enticed praise, debate, and criticism in Michigans largest city. The full spectrum of public opinion about the complex, and Renaissance Centers design merits more broadly, were well captured in Charles Rices Interior Urbanism: Architecture, John Portman, and Downtown America, but also Jordan Hicks in The Avery Review.A new plan by Genslers Detroit office and Field Operations would tear down two of Renaissance Centers original towers and replace them with three new smaller ones filled with a mix of hospitality and housing, the developers said in a statement. The tear downs would open up large amounts of space on the ground plane for pedestrian-centered uses.Field Operations is revamping 27 acres of waterfront space. (Courtesy Bedrock and Gensler)The two existing 39-story towers would be replaced with housing and an entertainment district designed by Gensler, leaving three existing Renaissance Center towers standing. Field Operations will redesign 27 acres of Downtown Detroits waterfront as part of the comprehensive master plan. The project backers, General Motors and Bedrock, said that removing Tower 500 and Tower 600 will help right size the Renaissance Centers footprint in our post-pandemic economy, where demand for office space has plummeted. Renaissance Centers low-rise base would also be removed, further reducing the amount of office space at the complex.Renderings show the base replaced with a glass curtain wall structure thats much smaller than the original. Meanwhile, the master plan by Field Operations would deliver a new pedestrian promenade that better connects Downtown Detroit to the waterfront, stocked with new signature public spaces.A new promenade designed by Field Operations would expand retail and recreational opportunities near the waterfront. (Courtesy Bedrock and Gensler)Access from downtown to the riverfront will be improved under the master plan. (Courtesy Bedrock and Gensler)The total price tag adds up to $1.6 billion. General Motors has pledged $250 million for the project, and Bedrock will cough up $1 billion. At least $350 million will come from public coffers, however, according to reporting in the Wall Street Journal. Usingpublic tax money for the project by Daniel Gilbert, billionaire developer, has been the source of contentious debate in Detroit. Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan said the public-private partnership model to deliver the project will be like how Michigan Central Station and American Motors Corporation Headquarters got refurbished. The cost burden for tax payers however has been cause for concern.GM has been headquartered at Renaissance Center since the 1990s. After this master plans completion, the automotive company will move its headquarters to a different, undisclosed location.