Skyscraper, Detroit, since 1989
150 West Jefferson
Still standing, photographed 2025
- Opened
- 1989
- Tall
- 455 ft
- Floors
- 26
- Standing
- 37 years
Designed by Heller Manus Architects
150 West Jefferson has risen over West Jefferson Avenue in Detroit since 1989, 37 years and counting. Who built it, what makes it special and how to see it for yourself.
On the Detroit skyline
The other towers
- Westin Book Cadillac Hotel 1924
- Book Tower 1917
- Penobscot Building 1928
- Guardian Building 1929
- Ally Detroit Center 1993
- Renaissance Center 1976
A short walk away
More photos of 150 West Jefferson
What is there now
Standing
We checked building permits, sales, listings and the city's blight and demolition files on October 24, 2026. Nothing new at this address in the last two years.
The story
150 West Jefferson opened in 1989, as Detroit rebuilt its riverfront and downtown in concrete, steel and glass.
Heller Manus Architects drew the plans.
It rises 455 feet over 26 floors.
Next time you are nearby, stop at 150 West Jefferson Avenue and look up.
Timeline
- 1989 Built Designed by Heller Manus Architects
- 2026 Today 37 years and still standing
Where it is
150 West Jefferson Avenue
On this map
- 1 150 West Jefferson This place
- 2 Ford Auditorium 170 ft
- 3 Avenue Theatre 230 ft
- 4 One Woodward Avenue 320 ft
- 5 Citizens Building 320 ft
- 6 Norton Hotel (first) 340 ft
- 7 Newberry & McMillan Building 360 ft
- 8 Norton Hotel (second) 380 ft
- 9 Ally Detroit Center 520 ft
Street map from OpenStreetMap contributors
Who made it
More from Detroit in the 1980s
-
Ally Detroit Center
Skyscraper, built 1993, Postmodern, by Philip Johnson
Photo: WMrapids, CC0 1.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
Renaissance City Apartments
Skyscraper, built 1985, by SDG Associates
Photo: 42-BRT, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Riverfront Apartments Building, built 1984, by Gruzen Partnership
Around the block
-
Ford Auditorium
Building, built 1956, International Style, by Crane, Kiehler & Kellogg, demolished 2011
Photo: Goldnpuppy, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
170 ft
- Avenue Theatre Theater, built 1859, demolished 1950 230 ft
-
One Woodward Avenue
Skyscraper, built 1963, International Style, by Minoru Yamasaki
Photo: Chris Woodrich, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
320 ft
- Citizens Building Building, built 1923, by C. Howard Crane, demolished 1959 320 ft
- Norton Hotel (first) Hotel, demolished 1927 340 ft
- Newberry & McMillan Building Building, built 1879, Second Empire, by Gordon W. Lloyd, demolished 1928 360 ft
- Norton Hotel (second) Hotel, built 1918, Italian Renaissance, by Bonnah & Chaffee, demolished 1959 380 ft
-
Ally Detroit Center
Skyscraper, built 1993, Postmodern, by Philip Johnson
Photo: WMrapids, CC0 1.0, via Wikimedia Commons
520 ft
Photo credits
Every photo on this page is used under its license, named here with its author and a link to the original.
- Kyle Lang, 2007, free to all Photo: V8americanpower at English Wikipedia, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
- 150 West Jefferson in 2025 Photo: WMrapids, CC0 1.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- 150 West Jefferson, Detroit, Michigan, 2025-07-05 Photo: Crisco 1492, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Aerial View of Renaissance Center, Detroit, Michigan, USA, 2008 Photo: Robert Thompson, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Hart Plaza at the Detroit International Riverfront, 2007 Photo: I, Mikerussell, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- View of Detroit from Windsor. I love the Deco-y Ghostbusters skyscrapers, 2011 Photo: Roger, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Sources
Facts only, gathered from these sources. The story above is written by Rebuild Detroit. Every photo names its author and license where it appears.