Hudson's site skyscraper reaches full height, is Detroit's 2nd tallest building

The new Hudson's site skyscraper in downtown Detroit has officially reached full height.

Construction crews on Wednesday hoisted a final steel beam to top off the tower at just over 681 feet.

Photos of the topping-off ceremony, shared on social media, show a small pine tree and a U.S. flag affixed to the beam, which also bears the name of the project's general contractor, Barton Malow.

The Hudson's site skyscraper, 1208 Woodward Ave., is now the second tallest building in Detroit, behind only the 727-foot-tall central tower of the Renaissance Center.

The overall $1.4 billion project is two new side-by-side buildings: the 49-story skyscraper and a wider 11- or 12-story "office block." A total 1.5 million square feet of space is planned. The developer is Dan Gilbert's real estate firm Bedrock.

The office block topped off two years ago and appears closer to full completion, with leasing agents actively seeking office and commercial tenants to fill it. So far, no occupants have been announced.

The skyscraper is expected to contain a 210-room ultra-luxury Edition Hotel and about 97 condominiums and apartments. A model units and sales office for the condos and apartments is taking shape across from the project at 1225 Woodward, and is expected to be ready in time for the April 25-27 NFL draft in Detroit.

“The talent and dedication of Detroit’s tradespeople has been a driving force on the Hudson’s site and integral to achieving this landmark project,” Gilbert said in a statement Thursday. “We are proud of their individual contributions, that will make this a generational development and will surely enhance the city’s skyline for Detroiters and visitors for decades to come.”

The development broke ground in December 2017 on the former site of the landmark J.H. Hudson Co. department store, which closed in 1983 and was imploded in 1998.

Bedrock initially set out to finish the entire project in 2022, but construction has taken longer than anticipated. Development officials have since given Bedrock a Dec. 31, 2024, deadline to reach "substantial completion," although time extensions — if necessary — are possible.

A Bedrock representative didn't respond Thursday to a Free Press inquiry about the latest timeline for completion.

The design for the skyscraper underwent several changes after the groundbreaking. It was once planned to soar 912 feet and feature an observation deck — making it the tallest tower in Detroit and all of Michigan — before a scaling-back of design plans shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic.

The project is making use of several development incentives, including tax abatements and future state and local tax captures.

Contact JC Reindl: 313-378-5460 or jcreindl@freepress.com. Follow him on X @jcreindl.