American Center

The American Center is a 26-story office tower with shimmering gold glass panels and chamfered corners, rising about 331 feet (101 meters) in Southfield. The building combines modern materials with a distinctive geometric design in a structure that houses office spaces, retail areas, and a parking garage.

The building opened in 1975 as the headquarters for American Motors Corporation, a major automotive manufacturer. When Chrysler acquired the company in 1987, the tower's role shifted within the region's corporate landscape.

This tower reflects how suburbs transformed during the 1970s when major corporations moved their headquarters away from downtown areas. The building stands as a visible reminder of this shift in how American cities reorganized their business districts.

The building is easily reached via Interstate 696, Highway M-10, and US Route 24, with a parking garage within the structure for visitor and tenant use. Retail spaces on the ground level are directly accessible from the street, making them convenient to explore without needing to enter the office tower itself.

The elevator core is rotated 45 degrees from the main tower's axis, an unusual structural choice that most visitors overlook on first glance. This angled core represents an interesting engineering solution that becomes apparent only when one studies the building's interior layout carefully.

Location: Michigan

Inception: 1975

Architects: SmithGroup

Floors above the ground: 26

GPS coordinates: 42.49000,-83.29889

Latest update: December 8, 2025 19:44