A Century of Florida's Tallest Skyscrapers
(http://www.metrojacksonville.com/photos/thumbs/lrg-3754-atlanticbank.jpg)
The title of tallest building in Florida changed hands twelve times over the past 100 years. Of the 13 buildings to hold the title, 6 of them are in Jacksonville. Today, Metro Jacksonville takes a look at Florida's Tallest Buildings throughout more than a century.
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http://www.metrojacksonville.com/content/view/728 (http://www.metrojacksonville.com/content/view/728)
About the Modis Tower, I had done research on an old Jacksonville bicentential celebration book long ago that the building was actualy built in July of 1975. ;)
I've seen that mistake as well - it was built in 1974.
http://skyscraperpage.com/cities/?cityID=135
http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/ci/bu/sk/li/?id=101041&bt=2&ht=2&sro=1
I guess because 1975 is a round year that mistake is made, but I've seen that myself a lot as well.
My husband and I were talking to road-bike racer, Paul Curly about doing a stair-climbing race through the stairwell of the Modis building. How cool would that be? An individual time-trial to see who can climb and descend all flights of stairs the fastest. I can tell you this, it wouldn't be me.
This is what this site is all about, IMO. Most of us here are skyscraper fanatics and thrive on topics like this one. Very well done!
I wasn't aware that Tampa held the title twice, although for only a short period of time. Its good to know that outside of Miami, Jax holds the title over everyone else... ;-)
I can't wait for the market to rebound so that the ongoing race for the state's tallest may continue. Who knows, maybe Jax can pull for the tallest in the south, or even the country?
Quote from: jeh1980 on March 06, 2008, 04:44:49 AM
About the Modis Tower, I had done research on an old Jacksonville bicentential celebration book long ago that the building was actualy built in July of 1975. ;)
Quote from: Steve on March 06, 2008, 09:45:11 AM
I've seen that mistake as well - it was built in 1974.
http://skyscraperpage.com/cities/?cityID=135
http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/ci/bu/sk/li/?id=101041&bt=2&ht=2&sro=1
I guess because 1975 is a round year that mistake is made, but I've seen that myself a lot as well.
Well, I actualy thought that what I had read wasn't really a mistake. Let's me explain. In one of the 1974 Architectual Digest magazines (I think that was the name of it, Im not so sure) I had researched, I happen to see an ad for the Libbey-Owens-Ford glass company that showed Independent Square (Modis Tower) under construction. Then I might have read somewhere in that ad that said it's will be completed February 1975. But later, I read in a Jacksonville bicentenial celebration book that was published in 1976 that the building was actualy built in July 1975. :o Go figure! All in all, I believe that that building was REALLY built in 1975, not 1974. Sorry for the confusion :-X!
Pretty cool information.. Also good to know how old these structures are and that belive it or not, most of them are still with us. :)
It will be interesting to see what becomes of the Laura Trio. I regret Cameron Kuhns misfortune.
All of the listed buildings are still standing and other than the Laura Trio, still in good shape.
Wasn't the last big announced "new" project building in the recent boom a Miami clone with the promise of being higher? 68-70 stories? Would it have trumped the current Miami winner? Wonder if it's dead forever or "on hold" until such time... if so, we're probably not out of the race forever.
Ocklawaha
One more thought... and I hope they see this! I think the current Fidelity and DuPont buildings are sorry excuses for fortune 500 corporate HQ types. Come on guys, give us something to brag about!
Ocklawaha
One more time... Hey family? Chattanooga has a KRYSTAL RESTAURANT tower. Where the hell is our WINN DIXIE tower?
Florida East Coast? Moved from St. Augustines tallest trio to Baymeadows! Damn boys, give those folks over at CSX something to stare at!
Sell the old JEA site to the Seminole Nation and raise a hotel, retail complex to play the game at a new level. And I do mean GAME!
Ocklawaha
Quote from: Ocklawaha on March 06, 2008, 06:57:42 PM
Wasn't the last big announced "new" project building in the recent boom a Miami clone with the promise of being higher? 68-70 stories? Would it have trumped the current Miami winner? Wonder if it's dead forever or "on hold" until such time... if so, we're probably not out of the race forever.
Ocklawaha
The latest Miami +1,000ft project was announced last week. They have two +1,000 footers that are continuing to move forward.
Quote from: Ocklawaha on March 06, 2008, 07:04:44 PM
Sell the old JEA site to the Seminole Nation and raise a hotel, retail complex to play the game at a new level. And I do mean GAME!
Ocklawaha
According to Stephen Dare, casino paddleboats will be on the downtown riverfront within the next two years.
Stephendare?
Oh now y'all are my best friends!
Will they serve REBEL YELL?
Ocklawaha
MODIS may be the big player here when it comes to dominant building, but Bank of America still is mine. I guess it is the colors, shape, and overall stark contrast to the much brighter MODIS Building. JAX has a very nice skyline and can really bank on it when the next boom starts.
Man really good article!!!! Not really concerned with what Miami and Tampa are doing, but entertaining either way. I didn't know those 3 buildings were called the "laura trio". I heard Florida's first skyscraper was the Bisbee Building, but I don't see it on this list. The New Penisula Condo is the 3rd tallest building right now???? it looks that way from the Fuller Warren although I may be wrong. Good Stuff!! One of the reasons I love this site. 8)
The Bisbee building was built the same year as the Atlantic National Bank Building (2nd on the list), but one was completed before the other. The Atlantic is slightly taller.
With regard to the Peninsula, it is the fourth tallest in Jax in terms of height, but third in terms of floors. AT&T has 32 floors, while the Peninsula has 36.
Quote from: reednavy on March 06, 2008, 09:05:39 PM
MODIS may be the big player here when it comes to dominant building, but Bank of America still is mine. I guess it is the colors, shape, and overall stark contrast to the much brighter MODIS Building. JAX has a very nice skyline and can really bank on it when the next boom starts.
My orignial "vision" plan of the downtown core (if you've seen it) showed what the skyline could look like with 5 new towers covering the parking lots that sit right in the middle of the CBD waterfront area. If the next boom consumes these lots with attractive tall modern towers, we will certainly move into the next league of city skylines. Two of these five lots are perfect for the state's or even the south's next tallest.
Quote from: Jason on March 07, 2008, 10:17:39 AM
Quote from: reednavy on March 06, 2008, 09:05:39 PM
MODIS may be the big player here when it comes to dominant building, but Bank of America still is mine. I guess it is the colors, shape, and overall stark contrast to the much brighter MODIS Building. JAX has a very nice skyline and can really bank on it when the next boom starts.
My orignial "vision" plan of the downtown core (if you've seen it) showed what the skyline could look like with 5 new towers covering the parking lots that sit right in the middle of the CBD waterfront area. If the next boom consumes these lots with attractive tall modern towers, we will certainly move into the next league of city skylines. Two of these five lots are perfect for the state's or even the south's next tallest.
Where exactly? What corners?
Hey did you guys know that one american center which is currently own kuhn and was once know as AHL life insurance building where going to develope a 54 story tower in downtown on that ajacent lot, before deciding to move out towards the beach on JTB which is now the hamana building. I also heard romours about private indiviual taking over laura street trio make the marble bank a club the, florida bank and hotel with 60 rooms and the bisbee, and residential complext
Where did you get your information, or rumors from? What is the source?
Heights Unknown
QuoteDyal-Upchurch Building: the history
(http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/articles/12_01_09/5a.jpg)
At six stories, it’s far from the tallest building Downtown but at one time that distinction was held by the Dyal-Upchurch Building.
Following the Great Fire of 1901, it was the first multistory structure that was built as part of Jacksonville’s revival. It is also the first building designed by Henry John Klutho, an architect who was living in New York City and decided to relocate to Jacksonville after he read about the fire. The disaster also brought the men who developed the building here. Benjamin Dyal owned a sawmill and Frank Upchurch invested in lumber and turpentine.
There’s also a commercial real estate angle to the story. Office space in the building at the corner of Bay and Main streets was leased so fast after construction began that Klutho was called on to add an additional floor to meet the demand. Shortly after that building opened in 1902, the Atlantic National Bank was founded and occupied the first floor until the financial institution’s new headquarters on Forsyth Street was completed in 1909.
Full Article:
http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/downtowntoday.php?dt_date=2009-12-01
Miami is getting taller I see. Where would a next tower in Jax go? They would probably have to knock something old down to make it happen
Nah, there are 5 or more prime parcels right in the heart of the CBD that would look great with a 600' plus tower. I'll dig up the images I made a while back and repost them.
Here are a few...
Aerial view showing the vacant lots in the CBD.
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y74/asonj23/Google%20Earth%20Snapshots/VacantLot-1.jpg)
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y74/asonj23/Google%20Earth%20Snapshots/JaxoftheFuture-2.jpg)
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y74/asonj23/Google%20Earth%20Snapshots/JaxoftheFuture-3.jpg)
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y74/asonj23/Google%20Earth%20Snapshots/JaxoftheFuture-5.jpg)
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y74/asonj23/Google%20Earth%20Snapshots/JaxoftheFuture-6.jpg)
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y74/asonj23/Google%20Earth%20Snapshots/JaxoftheFuture-9.jpg)
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y74/asonj23/Google%20Earth%20Snapshots/JaxoftheFuture-8.jpg)
The only building I recognize out of the one's that you added as fantasy is One Atlantic Center from midtown Atlanta. I also think the two on the lot adjacent to the CSX HQ is the Suncor Energy, fmr Petro-Canada Centre, from Calgary.
Nice work! I actually shortened the Atlanta tower a bit to make it fit the skyline better. Its just over 700' in the image above but actually just over 800' in realy life.
Its cool to see how much ov an impact 5 well place towers would have on the skyline as well as the streets.
If I could replace the AT&T Tower, I'd put Atlanta's 1180 Peachtree in it's place. Such a gorgeous building and really catches the eye with it's signature curved wings on top.
Toss in OKC's Devon Tower as well, which now has it's tower crane.