Before and After: JEA Headquarters

[thelakelander]

The JEA's new headquarters building in Downtown Jacksonville is nearing completion. Here is a before and after comparison of conceptual renderings verses what has been built.

Read More: https://www.thejaxsonmag.com/article/before-and-after-jea-headquarters/

[heights unknown]

Nice. Not tall enough though (LOL). Who cares right? Nice building.

[CityLife]

My theory that this building would turn out looking worse than the renderings because of using magic hour/night time imagery was unfortunately proven correct.

This was the main rendering shown to get the project approved



This is the slightly shorter final design



This is the final product. It's ok, but not nearly as modern and cutting edge as the renderings made it appear.

[thelakelander]

Pulling a heights unknown opinion here, but it would have looked better with some more height. As mentioned when the project was first proposed, I do wish the building and parking garage would have been integrated similar to the Duke Energy tower in St. Petersburg.



Would have impacted the Northbank skyline and saved half of that block for more intense, mixed-use development, which is really important for vibrancy. I have the same opinion regarding the new FIS building on Riverside Avenue. That garage is an eyesore and could have been handled much better at such a high profile corner in Brooklyn.

[vicupstate]

^^  Lake, if JEA had proposed going to the expense of doing that, it would have countered the 'JEA is doomed, so let's sell to highest bidder now' narrative being pushed by Curry's cronies at JEA.   

[Steve]

Personally I think it looks fine. I do agree that had the design been 7 floors to start they may have designed it differently.

I'll wait for a night view with lights but I feel like-especially compared to some-what they did DOES match the renderings.

[jcjohnpaint]

I do wish they built JEA building to take more floors in the future.

[heights unknown]

I do like that Orlando building; now if JEA had went that route and that height, it would have really added to and made a significant contribution and impact to the Jax skyline.

[CityLife]

I'll wait for a night view with lights but I feel like-especially compared to some-what they did DOES match the renderings.

Both the day and night renderings make it appear as if the glass is transparent. Here is the day rendering.



The renderings make it look like a world class building, especially the night shots. I know it's not the same view, but it appears the glass used on the actual building is darker and not transparent. The final product looks like a building that would fit on the JTB corridor imo. If it's just ok looking building in 2022 that means it will probably look bad in 2032.

I agree with Lake that it should have been taller. It's a shame that the value of real estate in DT Jax isn't high enough to make it cost effective to go more vertical to save room for additional/future development.

[Ken_FSU]

Renderings and height aside, I actually think both the new HQ and parking garage look quite nice in person from street level.

That said, whether or not the move is a net positive for downtown will ultimately come down to JEA's decision on how to handle the Universal Marion building that they're moving out of. Haven't heard anything in a few months, but prior to that, everything I've heard from within JEA is that they're rather intent on knocking her down.

That would be much sadder than whether or not the glass on the new HQ is transparent.

[Steve]

Renderings and height aside, I actually think both the new HQ and parking garage look quite nice in person from street level.

That said, whether or not the move is a net positive for downtown will ultimately come down to JEA's decision on how to handle the Universal Marion building that they're moving out of. Haven't heard anything in a few months, but prior to that, everything I've heard from within JEA is that they're rather intent on knocking her down.

That would be much sadder than whether or not the glass on the new HQ is transparent.

THIS. TIMES 10

[jcjohnpaint]

I just don't understand what the benefit of tearing it down would be.

[thelakelander]

Renderings and height aside, I actually think both the new HQ and parking garage look quite nice in person from street level.

That said, whether or not the move is a net positive for downtown will ultimately come down to JEA's decision on how to handle the Universal Marion building that they're moving out of. Haven't heard anything in a few months, but prior to that, everything I've heard from within JEA is that they're rather intent on knocking her down.

That would be much sadder than whether or not the glass on the new HQ is transparent.

It's been a few months, but last time I heard, there were at least two groups interested in keeping the building and another interested in demolishing and replacing it with another.

As for this particular building, I do believe the DIA/DDRB dropped the ball on the ground floor retail placement. This project is a great example of why we need to define our retail oriented streets. If that were the case, the retail in this building would be lining Adams Street as opposed to the side of the Ed Ball building parking garage along a seldom used street.


Dead space along Adams Street. Adams is one of the few walkable streets in the Northbank. All infill should complement this with additional storefronts and not blank walls.


New retail storefronts on Julia Street. They look great but Julia has significantly less traffic than Adams. The back of buildings and garages tend to front Julia as well. Ground floor retail and dining will be less feasible facing Julia than it would be along Adams.

[vicupstate]

^^ Excellent point, Lake.  i take it this was brought up during the DRB meetings by someone?