Type residential high-rise Top floor 101 m (331 ft) | Completed 1985 Floor count 33 | |
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Location 555 Brush Street
Detroit, Michigan Architect Ehrenkrantz, Echkstat & Whitelaw with Sims-Varner & Associates (now SDG Associates) | ||
The Renaissance City Apartments (formerly called Millender Center Apartments) is an upscale residential skyscraper located at 555 Brush Street in Downtown Detroit, Michigan. It is one of Detroit's tallest residential buildings, standing at 33 floors. It was constructed in 1985 in the Modern architectural style adjacent to the similarly designed Courtyard by Marriott – Downtown Detroit.
The residential apartments are connected by elevated enclosed skyways to the Renaissance Center (Across the street along Jefferson Avenue), the Courtyard by Marriott Downtown Detroit, and to the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center. The high-rise apartments also contain a large parking garage. It was originally named after Robert L. Millender, Sr., an attorney, political activist and campaign manager for Mayor Coleman Young. He encouraged and supported the candidacy of many in the African-American political community. They include former Michigan Secretary of State Richard H. Austin, Congressman John Conyers (D-MI), several City of Detroit Council members, local judges, and several Wayne County Commissioners. In recognition of the historic contributions Robert Millender made to the City of Detroit, this building was dedicated to in his memory in the 1980s. The Center complex includes an Office Center, the Courtyard by Marriott, the 33-story Renaissance City Apartments complex and a parking facility. Transportation is provided by the Detroit People Mover which has a station at the facility.
The main lobby of the Renaissance City Apartments features an original portrait of Robert L. Millender Sr., which was painted by the distinguished Detroit artist, Carl Owens. This complex is linked to the city by skywalks and the People Mover. A large pottery mural can be seen inside the Renaissance City Apartments people mover station. It was designed by local African-American artist Alvin Loving, Jr. He is a nationally known painter and had worked at Detroit’s Pewabic Pottery, one of two active turn-of-the-century pottery studios in the country.