How well do you know Downtown Jacksonville? Here's a list of the 10 largest non-residential buildings in downtown by gross area. Some may surprise you.

Downtown Jacksonville is home to the region’s tallest, featuring nearly eight million square feet of commercial space and more than two million square feet of government buildings. An additional 539,000 square feet of office space is either under construction or nearing completion. Florida’s fourth largest downtown office market behind Miami, Tampa and Orlando is also home to three Fortune 500 companies and 55,000 employees. Here are the ten largest commercial office and government buildings in Downtown Jacksonville by heated square footage.

10. VyStar Tower

76 South Laura Street

Heated Area: 426,336 Square Feet Number of Floors: 23 Floors Year Built: 1989

Designed by KBJ Architects, the postmodern VyStar Tower was originally completed for the Completed in 1989, 76 South Laura Street was developed by Rouse and Associates and was the former home of the American Heritage Life Insurance Company. Designed by KBJ Architects, the postmodern building was the former home of Humana and SunTrust during the 1990s and early 2000s. In 2018, the tower was acquired by VyStar Credit Union.

9. CSX Transportation Headquarters

500 Water Street

Heated Area: 453,103 Square Feet Number of Floors: 15 Floors Year Built: 1960

The CSX Transportation Building was originally completed in 1960 for the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad. The building is a result of the railroad company selecting Jacksonville over Savannah and Charleston as the railroad company’s corporate headquarters. Designed by KBJ Architects, the tower is an example of Mid-century modern and International style architecture.

8. Florida Blue Inc.

532 Riverside Avenue

Heated Area: 568,911 Square Feet Number of Floors: 20 Floors Year Built: 1971

Completed in 1971 as the Blue Cross Blue Shield Building, 523 Riverside Avenue was the second tallest building constructed in the 1970s in Jacksonville.

7. Riverplace Tower

1301 Riverplace Boulevard

Heated Area: 596,638 Square Feet Number of Floors: 28 Floors Year Built: 1967

Completed in 1967, 1301 Riverplace Boulevard was built as the corporate headquarters of the Gulf Life Insurance Company. Then known as the Gulf Life Tower, it was the tallest precast, post-tensioned concrete structure in the world. Designed by notable architect Welton Becket and KBJ Architects, the building was Florida tallest for five years. In 2012, the American Institute of Architect’s Florida Chapter placed the building on its list of Florida Architecture: 100 Places.

6. Eight Forty One

841 Prudential Drive

Heated Area: 683,327 Square Feet Number of Floors: 22 Floors Year Built: 1955

Originally the Prudential Insurance Building, Eight Forty One was “The Tallahest Office Building in the South” and the tallest in Florida prior to the completion of NASA’s Vehicle Assembly Building in 1965. Designed by KBJ Architects, the building’s lobby once included a 2-ton piece of the Rock of Gibraltar.

5. Bank of America Tower

50 North Laura Street

Heated Area: 729,185 Square Feet Number of Floors: 42 Floors Year Built: 1990

Originally the Barnett Center, the Bank of America Tower is the tallest building in Jacksonville. Once the headquarters of Barnett Bank, the tower was designed by German-American architect Helmut Jahn and was the tallest building between Atlanta and Miami when it was completed.

4. 701 San Marco

701 San Marco Boulevard

Heated Area: 742,713 Square Feet Number of Floors: 21 Floors Year Built: 1985

Formerly known as Two Prudential Plaza, 701 San Marco was designed by KBJ Architects and completed in 1985.

3. Duval County Courthouse

501 West Adams Street

Heated Area: 786,447 Square Feet Number of Floors: 7 Floors Year Built: 2012

Designed by KBJ Architects, the Duval County Courthouse was funded by the Better Jacksonville Plan in 2000. However, rising costs delayed its construction until 2009. The new courthouse is the fifth county courthouse erected in Duval County since the 1840s.

2. Wells Fargo Center

One Independent Drive

Heated Area: 892,297 Square Feet Number of Floors: 37 Floors Year Built: 1975

Designed by KBJ Architects, the Wells Fargo Center was originally built for the Independent Life and Accident Insurance Company. Considered to be one of Jacksonville’s most distinctive buildings, initially the tower contained a 360 seat auditorium, a four-story atrium and a ground floor retail mall.

1. TIAA Bank Center

301 West Bay Street

Heated Area: 1,091,985 Square Feet Number of Floors: 32 Floors Year Built: 1983

Designed by KBJ Architects for the Southern Bell Telephone Company, the TIAA Bank Center is the largest office building in Downtown Jacksonville. In addition, the building features a two-story atrium with retail, dining and a 280-seat auditorium.

Source: Duval County Property Appraiser

Article by Ennis Davis, AICP. Contact Ennis at edavis@moderncities.com