Wells Fargo Center (originally Independent Life Building) is a skyscraper in the downtown area of Jacksonville, Florida, at the southeast corner of Bay and Laura streets. Standing 535 feet (163 meters) tall, it is the city's second-tallest building.[1][3] It was formerly known as the Modis Building until 2011, when Wells Fargo acquired the naming rights.[4][5][6]
The tower was completed in 1974 by the Independent Life and Accident Insurance Company, and was known as the Independent Life Building. Built by The Auchter Company.[4][7] It was designed by KBJ Architects, who received the Honor Award for Outstanding Achievement in Design by the Jacksonville Chapter of the American Institute of Architects for the design.[1][8] The design concept included a sloping base and large corner frames to provide a distinctive image not only for the company, but also as an identifying landmark for the city of Jacksonville.[8]
Beginning in 1995 Independent Life was acquired by the American General Life Insurance Company, and operations were gradually moved to Nashville, Tennessee.[9][10] The building was sold to Associated Capital Properties, and the Jacksonville staffing company AccuStaff moved in and acquired the naming rights, and it became the AccuStaff Building.[11] In 2002, AccuStaff changed its name to MPS Group. It renamed the building the Modis Building, after one of the company's main brands, and added Modis signage.[4] In 2009 MPS Group was acquired by the Swiss firm Adecco Group, which announced the company would relocate to Jacksonville's suburbs.[4] The move was completed in 2011 and the signage was removed, and the building was renamed Independent Square.[3][12]
In May 2011, Wells Fargo, which had acquired the Wachovia financial services company, announced it would relocate local employees to the building.[3][5][13] Signage went up on the Wells Fargo Center on September 26 and the relocation completed by April 2012.[6]
Description and tenantsEdit
The Wells Fargo Center has 37 floors, and held the title of tallest building in Florida until 1981, when One Tampa City Center was completed.[1] It remained the tallest building in Jacksonville until 1990, when the Bank of America Tower surpassed it in height. The building takes up an entire city block in Jacksonville's downtown. A notable feature of the structure is a four-story atrium of tropical vegetation where the public enters.[8] The first floor also contained an auditorium with seating for 360 patrons, a bank, restaurants, and several retail stores.[14]
One major tenant in the Wells Fargo Center is the River Club of Jacksonville, a private business club that occupies the top two floors of the building. Originally known as the Jacksonville Businessmen's Club, it was established in 1954 after the fashion of similar organizations in New York City, Chicago and Washington, D.C.[16] It was formerly located on the 16th floor of the Prudential Building (now known as the Aetna Building), the city's tallest building when it opened in 1955.[17][18] It relocated to its current space in 1976, but did not offer memberships to women until 1985.[17] The club has been owned and managed by a subsidiary of Gate Petroleum since 2003.[19]
In September 2017, Hurricane Irma's storm surge caused major flooding in the downtown area of Jacksonville. The parking garage of the Wells Fargo Center was impacted by these events and the building was briefly closed. The building reopened September 29.
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Wells Fargo Center originally Independent Life Building is a skyscraper in the downtown area of Jacksonville Florida at the southeast corner of Bay and Laura streets Standing 535 feet 163 meters tall it is the city s second tallest building 1 3 It was formerly known as the Modis Building until 2011 when Wells Fargo acquired the naming rights 4 5 6 Wells Fargo CenterWater Street entranceLocation within Central JacksonvilleShow map of Central JacksonvilleWells Fargo Center Jacksonville Florida Show map of FloridaFormer namesIndependent Life BuildingAccuStaff BuildingModis BuildingGeneral informationTypeOffice 1 Architectural styleModernistLocationOne Independent DriveJacksonville FloridaCoordinates30 19 33 N 81 39 32 W 30 32579 N 81 65888 W 30 32579 81 65888Construction started1972Completed1974 1 Opening1974 1 HeightAntenna spire645 ft 197 m 2 Roof535 ft 163 m 1 Technical detailsFloor count37 1 Lifts elevators15 1 Design and constructionArchitect s KBJ Architects 1 Main contractorThe Auchter Company 1 Contents 1 History 2 Description and tenants 2 1 The River Club 3 Gallery 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksHistory Edit Independent Life around 1983The tower was completed in 1974 by the Independent Life and Accident Insurance Company and was known as the Independent Life Building Built by The Auchter Company 4 7 It was designed by KBJ Architects who received the Honor Award for Outstanding Achievement in Design by the Jacksonville Chapter of the American Institute of Architects for the design 1 8 The design concept included a sloping base and large corner frames to provide a distinctive image not only for the company but also as an identifying landmark for the city of Jacksonville 8 Beginning in 1995 Independent Life was acquired by the American General Life Insurance Company and operations were gradually moved to Nashville Tennessee 9 10 The building was sold to Associated Capital Properties and the Jacksonville staffing company AccuStaff moved in and acquired the naming rights and it became the AccuStaff Building 11 In 2002 AccuStaff changed its name to MPS Group It renamed the building the Modis Building after one of the company s main brands and added Modis signage 4 In 2009 MPS Group was acquired by the Swiss firm Adecco Group which announced the company would relocate to Jacksonville s suburbs 4 The move was completed in 2011 and the signage was removed and the building was renamed Independent Square 3 12 In May 2011 Wells Fargo which had acquired the Wachovia financial services company announced it would relocate local employees to the building 3 5 13 Signage went up on the Wells Fargo Center on September 26 and the relocation completed by April 2012 6 Description and tenants EditThe Wells Fargo Center has 37 floors and held the title of tallest building in Florida until 1981 when One Tampa City Center was completed 1 It remained the tallest building in Jacksonville until 1990 when the Bank of America Tower surpassed it in height The building takes up an entire city block in Jacksonville s downtown A notable feature of the structure is a four story atrium of tropical vegetation where the public enters 8 The first floor also contained an auditorium with seating for 360 patrons a bank restaurants and several retail stores 14 Parkway Properties is a third party service provider for the building 15 The River Club Edit River Club logoOne major tenant in the Wells Fargo Center is the River Club of Jacksonville a private business club that occupies the top two floors of the building Originally known as the Jacksonville Businessmen s Club it was established in 1954 after the fashion of similar organizations in New York City Chicago and Washington D C 16 It was formerly located on the 16th floor of the Prudential Building now known as the Aetna Building the city s tallest building when it opened in 1955 17 18 It relocated to its current space in 1976 but did not offer memberships to women until 1985 17 The club has been owned and managed by a subsidiary of Gate Petroleum since 2003 19 In September 2017 Hurricane Irma s storm surge caused major flooding in the downtown area of Jacksonville The parking garage of the Wells Fargo Center was impacted by these events and the building was briefly closed The building reopened September 29 Gallery Edit Modis signage in 2000 Aerial view in 2010 Wells Fargo Center with Go Jaguars lights in 2011 Interior SideSee also EditArchitecture of Jacksonville List of tallest buildings in Jacksonville List of tallest buildings in Florida Downtown JacksonvilleReferences Edit a b c d e f g h i j k Wells Fargo Center Emporis Archived from the original on March 8 2016 Retrieved July 25 2019 Modis Tower The Skyscraper Center Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat Retrieved July 25 2019 a b c Life After Modis Tower To Get New Name WJXT May 20 2011 Archived from the original on August 15 2011 Retrieved April 1 2013 a b c d Naming rights for Modis building up for grabs in 2011 Jacksonville Business Journal August 25 201 Retrieved June 7 2011 a b Bull Roger May 20 2011 Wells Fargo name to replace Modis atop landmark building The Florida Times Union Retrieved July 6 2011 a b Patterson Steve September 25 2011 Wells Fargo joins Jacksonville skyline The Florida Times Union Retrieved September 26 2011 Jacksonville University Geography department Modis Building a b c KBJ Architects website Awards Modis Building History of some major insurance companies February 24 2003 The Florida Times Union Retrieved September 12 2011 The History of American General Life and Accident Insurance Company American International Group website company history Brune Mathis Karen AccuStaff pointing to Independent Florida Times Union June 20 1997 Modis Building s Name Coming Down Jacksonville News Story WJXT Jacksonville www news4jax com Archived from the original on 2011 07 14 Karen Brune Mathis August 25 201 Wells Fargo to move into former Modis Building Financial News and Daily Record Retrieved June 7 2011 1 Metro Jacksonville February 4 2009 Unique Jacksonville Independent Square Wells Fargo Center Parkway Properties Jacksonville River Club website history a b Mathis Karen February 15 2006 River Club s first woman president the end of an era The Florida Times Union Retrieved September 12 2011 Florida Times Union March 30 2005 Essay contest celebrates high rise s 50th birthday Mathis Karen June 30 2004 Gate doing overhaul of River Club The Florida Times Union Retrieved September 12 2011 External links EditJacksonville River Club websiteRecordsPreceded byRiverplace Tower Tallest building in Jacksonville1974 1990163m Succeeded byBank of America TowerPreceded byVehicle Assembly Building Tallest building in Florida1974 1981163m Succeeded byOne Tampa City Center Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Wells Fargo Center Jacksonville amp oldid 1166673078, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
