Ryan Companies celebrates topping out JEA headquarters

[thelakelander]

An update on the largest infill new construction project to take place in the Downtown Northbank in more than a decade.

Read More: https://www.thejaxsonmag.com/article/ryan-companies-celebrates-topping-out-jea-headquarters/

[Jagsdrew]

Someone check on Heights Unknown, I'm sure he's jumping out of his chair seeing the construction progress on this but you know he's never satisfied, he'd rather have 30+ stories. LOL

[jcjohnpaint]

Building looks pretty cheap. Does not seem to be able to expand. What happens when Jea grows because city grows? Build another building?

[marcuscnelson]

For whatever reason they decided they wanted seven stories rather than nine, and seem somewhat committed to building another building further northwest in LaVilla.

[Steve]

Actually, I don't know if I'd say they're committed to a second building:

https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/article/post-covid-hybrid-workplace-affecting-jea-facility-planning

That aside, I think the decision to build a smaller HQ may actually be the right one. This is not credit to Aaron Zahn but more of a blind squirrel finding an acorn as he couldn't have predicted covid. Sounds like JEA is going to embrace hot desking and more of a hybrid workforce. With that, you simply don't need as much space.

Now, I personally wish they took half the block and put the office space above the garage, but you're not changing that now.

[thelakelander]

^Wasn't it the new board that decided to slice the building size down after Zahn was let go?

[jaxlongtimer]

For whatever reason they decided they wanted seven stories rather than nine, and seem somewhat committed to building another building further northwest in LaVilla.

The LaVilla building is meant to be a hardened operations building, not a normal office building.  I think that building gets built regardless of the office structure downtown.

[heights unknown]

Someone check on Heights Unknown, I'm sure he's jumping out of his chair seeing the construction progress on this but you know he's never satisfied, he'd rather have 30+ stories. LOL

No, not jumping out of my chair. I've moved from Sarasota-Bradenton, West Central Florida and am back home in the North Florida area, and last week I visited Jax and saw the building up close, and was not amused nor impressed. In fact, I am still angry at JEA, and you are right, for not rising up to the occasion and making this building tall and "enshrouded in mystery" at the top on foggy days. Yes I am thankful that SOMETHING got built, but am severely disappointed that JEA did not build something yes tall and to its soaring and full potential. Hey, we're a city of almost a million people, so let's look like it and act like it; and no, skyscrapers or buildings do not make a city or a great city...this I understand, but when I see other leading Florida cities rising to the occasion, and have smaller populations, and Jax is just stagnant, and seems to be going nowhere, I am incensed, sad and disappointed to say the least let alone frustrated. I'll be leaving this dirtball soon; I wanna see my Jax, downtown especially, dense with buildings, filled with people, bars, retail, all type of other businesses, etc. But in closing, it's better than nothing.

[heights unknown]

Actually, I don't know if I'd say they're committed to a second building:

https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/article/post-covid-hybrid-workplace-affecting-jea-facility-planning

Now, I personally wish they took half the block and put the office space above the garage, but you're not changing that now.

That's what I was thinking too, put the offices on top of the garage; should have made it a true complex by doing that, and building the ops facility right next to it on Pearl. Too hard I guess. And...something needs to be built in LaVilla that means something.

[heights unknown]

An update on the largest infill new construction project to take place in the Downtown Northbank in more than a decade.

Read More: https://www.thejaxsonmag.com/article/ryan-companies-celebrates-topping-out-jea-headquarters/

OK. I see. Pathetic, yes. But OK, I get it.