121 Atlantic Place
Encyclopedia
121 Atlantic Place, formerly the Atlantic National Bank Building, is a historic skyscraper
in Jacksonville, Florida
. It was built in 1909 as the headquarters for the Atlantic National Bank
, and is located at 121 West Forsyth Street. It was the tallest building in Jacksonville and in Florida from 1909 to 1912, and remains an office building today.
architects Mowbray and Uffinger
and built between 1908-1909 by the James Stewart Company for the Atlantic National Bank
. The steel frame
structure stands at 10 stories and 135 feet (41.1 m) high, and includes a white marble
covering on the bottom two floors and white terra cotta
on the upper eight. The facade includes ornate detailing, two story columns around the entrance, and other decorative elements.
The building was constructed amid a three-way race with the Bisbee Building and the Seminole Hotel to become Jacksonville's first skyscraper
. All three buildings were located on Forsyth Street within a block of each other, and all three were ten stories tall. The Atlantic National Bank Building broke ground in August 1908, shortly after the Bisbee Building but before the Seminole Hotel. The Bisbee opened just before the Atlantic National Bank Building the following year, winning the race. However, at 41 meters the Atlantic Bank Building was taller than the others, making it the tallest building in Jacksonville and the tallest in Florida at the time. It held that position it held until the Florida Life Building
was completed in 1912.
The Atlantic National Bank, founded by Edward W. Lane, Thomas P. Denham, and Fred W. Hoyt in 1903, relocated its bank room from the nearby Dyal-Upchurch Building
to the new headquarters. In 1926 the bank opened the Atlantic National Bank Annex
directly behind the Bank Building on West Adams Street. This building, now known as the Schultz Building, was added to the National Register of Historic Places
in 1997. In 1985 Atlantic National Bank merged with First Union, which was in turn acquired by Wachovia
(and subsequently Wells Fargo
). The Atlantic National Bank Building changed hands over the years, becoming known as 121 Atlantic Place, but is still in use as an office building. It was renovated in the 2000s, with a five-story addition added to the west. One unique feature of the structure is its pedestrian tunnel
connecting to the BB&T Bank Building, the only such tunnel in Downtown Jacksonville still in use. This tunnel, originally created to facilitate secure travel between buildings, has been home to a small restaurant, Benny's, since 1985.
Skyscraper
A skyscraper is a tall, continuously habitable building of many stories, often designed for office and commercial use. There is no official definition or height above which a building may be classified as a skyscraper...
in Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
. It was built in 1909 as the headquarters for the Atlantic National Bank
Atlantic National Bank
The Atlantic National Bank was an American bank based in Jacksonville, Florida. It existed from 1903 until 1985, when it merged into First Union The company constructed two significant buildings in Downtown Jacksonville: 121 Atlantic Place and the Schultz Building The Atlantic National Bank was...
, and is located at 121 West Forsyth Street. It was the tallest building in Jacksonville and in Florida from 1909 to 1912, and remains an office building today.
History
The building was designed by New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
architects Mowbray and Uffinger
Mowbray and Uffinger
Mowbray and Uffinger comprised an architectural partnership in New York City known for bank buildings in the pre-World War II era. The principals were Louis Montayne Mowbray and Justin Maximo Uffinger Sr....
and built between 1908-1909 by the James Stewart Company for the Atlantic National Bank
Atlantic National Bank
The Atlantic National Bank was an American bank based in Jacksonville, Florida. It existed from 1903 until 1985, when it merged into First Union The company constructed two significant buildings in Downtown Jacksonville: 121 Atlantic Place and the Schultz Building The Atlantic National Bank was...
. The steel frame
Steel frame
Steel frame usually refers to a building technique with a "skeleton frame" of vertical steel columns and horizontal -beams, constructed in a rectangular grid to support the floors, roof and walls of a building which are all attached to the frame...
structure stands at 10 stories and 135 feet (41.1 m) high, and includes a white marble
Marble
Marble is a metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals, most commonly calcite or dolomite.Geologists use the term "marble" to refer to metamorphosed limestone; however stonemasons use the term more broadly to encompass unmetamorphosed limestone.Marble is commonly used for...
covering on the bottom two floors and white terra cotta
Terra cotta
Terracotta, Terra cotta or Terra-cotta is a clay-based unglazed ceramic, although the term can also be applied to glazed ceramics where the fired body is porous and red in color...
on the upper eight. The facade includes ornate detailing, two story columns around the entrance, and other decorative elements.
The building was constructed amid a three-way race with the Bisbee Building and the Seminole Hotel to become Jacksonville's first skyscraper
Skyscraper
A skyscraper is a tall, continuously habitable building of many stories, often designed for office and commercial use. There is no official definition or height above which a building may be classified as a skyscraper...
. All three buildings were located on Forsyth Street within a block of each other, and all three were ten stories tall. The Atlantic National Bank Building broke ground in August 1908, shortly after the Bisbee Building but before the Seminole Hotel. The Bisbee opened just before the Atlantic National Bank Building the following year, winning the race. However, at 41 meters the Atlantic Bank Building was taller than the others, making it the tallest building in Jacksonville and the tallest in Florida at the time. It held that position it held until the Florida Life Building
Florida Life Building
The Laura Street Trio is a group of three historic buildings located on and near Laura Street in downtown Jacksonville, Florida. The Trio consists of two perpendicularly-arranged skyscrapers, the Florida Life Building and the Bisbee Building, plus a third structure, the Old Florida National Bank ,...
was completed in 1912.
The Atlantic National Bank, founded by Edward W. Lane, Thomas P. Denham, and Fred W. Hoyt in 1903, relocated its bank room from the nearby Dyal-Upchurch Building
Dyal-Upchurch Building
The Dyal-Upchurch Building is a six-story, 43,747-square-foot historic building in Jacksonville, Florida. It is located at 4 East Bay Street, and was designed by architect Henry John Klutho. On April 17, 1980, it was added to the U.S...
to the new headquarters. In 1926 the bank opened the Atlantic National Bank Annex
Atlantic National Bank Annex
The Schultz Building, formerly the Atlantic National Bank Annex, is a historic building in Jacksonville, Florida, United States. It was built between 1925 and 1926 for the Atlantic National Bank as an annex to the Atlantic National Bank Building, located immediately behind it. It stands at 118 West...
directly behind the Bank Building on West Adams Street. This building, now known as the Schultz Building, was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1997. In 1985 Atlantic National Bank merged with First Union, which was in turn acquired by Wachovia
Wachovia
Wachovia was a diversified financial services company based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Before its acquisition by Wells Fargo in 2008, Wachovia was the fourth-largest bank holding company in the United States based on total assets...
(and subsequently Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo & Company is an American multinational diversified financial services company with operations around the world. Wells Fargo is the fourth largest bank in the U.S. by assets and the largest bank by market capitalization. Wells Fargo is the second largest bank in deposits, home...
). The Atlantic National Bank Building changed hands over the years, becoming known as 121 Atlantic Place, but is still in use as an office building. It was renovated in the 2000s, with a five-story addition added to the west. One unique feature of the structure is its pedestrian tunnel
Pedestrian tunnel
Pedestrian tunnel may refer to:* A subway * An underground city...
connecting to the BB&T Bank Building, the only such tunnel in Downtown Jacksonville still in use. This tunnel, originally created to facilitate secure travel between buildings, has been home to a small restaurant, Benny's, since 1985.