"In our internal studies, we think the building could betransformed for multiple uses, such as residential loft apartmentsand offices," says Conrad Schwartz, director of asset managementfor GM's Worldwide Real Estate arm. He says the building, whichbegan its life in the 1920s as a home to the GM researchdepartment, has had a number of users over the decades.

The various departments within the company are moving from thebuilding in December to other locations, such as the 1-million-sfRenaissance Center towers Downtown, which GM bought for $75 millionin 1996. The company also still owns a few parking garages and theNew Center One office building on West Grand Boulevard in the NewCenter area.

"The move out of the Argonaut building is part of GM's overallstrategy to exit all of our properties in the New Center," Schwartztells GlobeSt.com, adding he could not go into detail when the lastGM employee will leave the area.