Southfield Town Center


The Southfield Town Center is a cluster of five interconnected skyscrapers forming a contemporary office complex in the Detroit suburb of Southfield, Michigan. It includes the Westin Southfield Detroit Hotel, restaurants, a fitness center, and a major conference center for up to 1,000 attendees. This office-hotel complex is situated along Town Center Drive off M-10, across from Lawrence Technological University in Metro Detroit, with many of its tallest buildings named after their addresses along the road. Separately, there is a 33-story luxury residential high-rise at 5000 Town Center. The American Center, another 26-story office tower near the confluence of Interstate 696 and M-10, is not part of the complex.
The Town Center is across from the Civic Centre, and it is located between West 10 Mile Road and I-696, M-10, and Evergreen Road, as well as being close to the Mixing Bowl.
An enclosed two-story garden atrium connects the hotel with the towers of the Southfield Town Center. The atrium area also contains of retail space.

History

Planners adapted the Town Center location to avoid protected wetland areas. The original route for the I-696 freeway placed it along 10 Mile Road southeast of 11 Mile and Greenfield Roads. Recognizing the value of a large office complex and its tax revenue, city planners built a new city hall complex near 10 Mile Road on the east side of Evergreen.
Highway planners re-routed the freeway to run along 11 Mile Road. This delayed construction, but freed up the land to build the first phase, then called the Prudential Town Center with the first skyscraper, 3000 Town Center completed in 1975. A six-lane freeway ramp nearby remained half-completed for about 10 years in order to modify the route to accommodate the massive Town Center project. Additional towers were constructed in 1979, 1983, 1986, 1987, and 1989.

Location

The Southfield Town Center is located diagonally across Evergreen Road and Civic Center Drive from the complex that houses the Southfield City Hall, government offices, courthouse, the contemporary Southfield Public Library, a 9-hole public golf course, a city park and dedicated sports areas, a nature trail, an historic farm property, and an indoor ice rink / Olympic-size swimming pool and recreation center. Lawrence Technological University is directly across M-10 from the center.
A variety of contemporary, high-rise office buildings surround the immediate area. Multiple connecting freeways in the vicinity facilitate its central access to the metro region. The property, which abuts M-10, is from I-696, and it is near M-39, I-275, I-75, M-1 and US Highway 24. Residential high-rises and varieties of mid-density housing are within walking distance. The surrounding Southfield area contains single-family homes, many with brick ranch style architecture.

Architecture

The complex is an interconnected cluster of skyscrapers with an ornamental golden glass exterior, each with a different geometric configuration forming a Modern architectural style with Postmodern influences. The Modern styled buildings contain distinctive elements of High-Tech architecture. The complex contains fine restaurants and gift shops which support its function as a major conference center. Inside, the Westin hotel opens to a large enclosed garden atrium area which connects the Town Center buildings and is available for catering and large events. An aerial view of the separate 5000 Town Center residential high-rise resembles a mirrored pair of grand pianos. As a result, many residents have geometric rooms and common hallways, albeit with picturesque views of the surrounding wooded landscape and Civic Center Park. The complex contains ample parking space in adjoining garages.

Technical details

NameImagesHeight
feet / m		FloorsYearArea
sq feet / m²		Notes
3000 Town Center402 / 122321975533,982 / 49,609The 3000 Town Center is the second tallest building in the state of Michigan outside Detroit. Architects Neuhaus & Taylor, 3D International designed the tower using the Modern architectural style. The design exhibits strong cross braces over its golden glass and steel. It was the first phase of the Town Center.
1000 Town Center395 / 120281989598,232 / 55,578The 1000 Town Center was designed with a Modern architectural style using golden glass. Sikes Jennings Kelly & Brewer served as the architects. The tower is an office center for Fifth Third Bank.
2000 Town Center370 / 113281986556,723 / 51,721The 2000 Town Center contains the Skyline Club, an upscale business club and restaurant, located on the top floor. The golden glass tower is a polygonal with the top third of one corner truncated in a step-back pattern, designed with a Modern architectural style. Sikes Jennings Kelly & Brewer served as the architects. The Consulate of Macedonia in Detroit is in Suite 1130 at 2000 Town Center. Previously Northwest Airlines had an office in Suite 240 of 2000 Town Center.
5000 Town Center328 / 100331983NAThe 5000 Town Center is a high rise residential tower and reflects a Modern architectural style. It has an undulating plan, somewhat like a figure-eight. When it was built, this tower was divided into 216 individual units. Due to the merging of a some units, it now has 204 residences. Solomon Cordwell Buenz & Associates served as the architects.
4000 Town Center270 / 82201979386,293 / 35,888The 4000 Town Center is a 20 story tower and is the shortest of the Town Center office buildings. It was built in the Modern architectural style, showing a heavy use of golden glass on its exterior. Neuhaus & Taylor, 3D International served as the architects. Includes a Sundry Shop of Friends on the Go as well as a cafeteria of Friends Café on the first floor.
1500 Town Center121987NAThe interconnects with the office complex. The golden glass high-rise has 385 units/rooms and hosts conferences for up to 1,000 attendees. Sikes Jennings Kelly & Brewer designed the hotel in the Modern architectural style. Opened on October 15, 1987 as the Radisson Plaza Hotel.
Atrium garden2197994,000 / 8,733The atrium complex connects the complex and contains retail shops with the Westin's Tango restaurant at the other end of the grand hallway.
Southfield Town Center402 / 1222,200,000 / 204,400The total area excludes residential Tower 5000. The facility serves as a major conference center hosting up to 1,000 attendees. 601w owns the Town Center complex.