Riverplace Tower
Encyclopedia
The Riverplace Tower is a 28-floor office building on the south bank of the St. Johns River in Jacksonville, Florida
. At the time of its construction, it was the tallest building in the state of Florida, as well as Jacksonville, and the defining landmark in the skyline.
and KBJ Architects
. When completed in 1967, it was the tallest precast, post-tensioned concrete structure in the world. It held that distinction until 2002, when it was surpassed by the 425-ft.-tall Paramount Apartment Tower in San Francisco.
It remained Florida's tallest for five years until Miami's One Biscayne Tower
was constructed in 1972.
It was Jacksonville's tallest for eight years until the Independent Life Building (now the Wells Fargo Center) was built in 1974. In 2007, 40 years after its construction, Riverplace Tower was still the 5th tallest building in Jacksonville.
Gulf Life Insurance Company was merged into American General Life of Houston in 1991 and the Jacksonville Gulf Life Tower was unneeded and destined to be sold. American General wanted $30 million, but the building was 24 years old and no longer a class “A” property. Several prospective buyers looked at the building, but the property stayed on the market for more than two years. For tax reasons, American General was desperate to sell during 1993 and accepted a cash offer from Gate Petroleum
for substantially less than their asking price. Shortly thereafter, Gate began a multi-million dollar renovation of the entire building and renamed it Riverplace Tower.
Building occupancy was 40% when the sale closed; within two years from the completion of the renovation, it had soared to nearly 95% and the building was restored to its former prominence.
The banner sign at the top of the building originally displayed "Gulf Life" in 1967. After Gulf Life was acquired by American General in 1991, it was changed to "SouthTrust", and the structure was known as the SouthTrust Building. When SouthTrust and Wachovia merged in 2005, the "Wachovia" signage was installed, but was removed January 22, 2011.
Hall of Fame was established in 2002 and is permanently located on the concourse level. Memorabilia from the event, which began in 1978, is on display, and a five-minute video gives visitors an overview of the race. Plaques for each of the 12 persons inducted into the HOF are on display.
According to an Architecture article in Time Magazine, "(the) Gulf Life, placed in a shoddy, chaotic part of Jacksonville, is a tonic for its area, acts as an organizing beacon. And the bold Alcoa building…makes a positive contribution to San Francisco. Both buildings thus achieve excellence."
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...
. At the time of its construction, it was the tallest building in the state of Florida, as well as Jacksonville, and the defining landmark in the skyline.
History
The Auchter Company, Jacksonville’s oldest general construction contractor, built the 542,000ft2 "Gulf Life Tower" for the Gulf Life Insurance Company in 1966. It was designed by the notable architect, Welton BecketWelton Becket
Welton Becket was an architect who designed many buildings in Los Angeles, California.Becket was born in Seattle, Washington and graduated from the University of Washington program in Architecture in 1927 with a Bachelor of Architecture degree .He settled in Los Angeles in 1933 and formed a...
and KBJ Architects
KBJ Architects
KBJ Architects, Inc. is an American architectural firm based in Jacksonville, Florida. The firm designed 17 of the city's 30 tallest buildings and "created Jacksonville's modern skyline", according to The Florida Times-Union newspaper. The firm designed the first high-rise in downtown...
. When completed in 1967, it was the tallest precast, post-tensioned concrete structure in the world. It held that distinction until 2002, when it was surpassed by the 425-ft.-tall Paramount Apartment Tower in San Francisco.
It remained Florida's tallest for five years until Miami's One Biscayne Tower
One Biscayne Tower
One Biscayne Tower is an office skyscraper in Downtown Miami, Florida, United States. It is located on the eastern edge of the Central Business District, on South Biscayne Boulevard. It is comprised completely of Class A office space. The building contains 39 floors and is 492 ft tall, to the roof...
was constructed in 1972.
It was Jacksonville's tallest for eight years until the Independent Life Building (now the Wells Fargo Center) was built in 1974. In 2007, 40 years after its construction, Riverplace Tower was still the 5th tallest building in Jacksonville.
Gulf Life Insurance Company was merged into American General Life of Houston in 1991 and the Jacksonville Gulf Life Tower was unneeded and destined to be sold. American General wanted $30 million, but the building was 24 years old and no longer a class “A” property. Several prospective buyers looked at the building, but the property stayed on the market for more than two years. For tax reasons, American General was desperate to sell during 1993 and accepted a cash offer from Gate Petroleum
Gate Petroleum
Gate Petroleum is a privately held diversified corporation headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, the 11th largest in Florida in 2010. In FY 2008, the company ranked #338 on the Forbes list of America's Largest Private Companies...
for substantially less than their asking price. Shortly thereafter, Gate began a multi-million dollar renovation of the entire building and renamed it Riverplace Tower.
The banner sign at the top of the building originally displayed "Gulf Life" in 1967. After Gulf Life was acquired by American General in 1991, it was changed to "SouthTrust", and the structure was known as the SouthTrust Building. When SouthTrust and Wachovia merged in 2005, the "Wachovia" signage was installed, but was removed January 22, 2011.
University Club
Since 1968, the University Club of Jacksonville has occupied the building's top floor. The private club is available members and their guests, or ClubCorp affiliates. There are approximately 1,300 members: business executives of both genders; older, long-term associates; and young professionals. The facility is a hub for networking and entertaining clients, as well as providing conference rooms and offices for conducting business in private. The club also offers two full service athletic facilities; one co-ed and one for men only.Hall of Fame
The Gate River RunGate River Run
The Gate River Run , formerly known as the Jacksonville River Run, is an annual 15 kilometer road race in Jacksonville, Florida that attracts both competitive and recreational runners. It has been the US National Championship 15K since 1994 and in 2007 became the largest 15K race in the country...
Hall of Fame was established in 2002 and is permanently located on the concourse level. Memorabilia from the event, which began in 1978, is on display, and a five-minute video gives visitors an overview of the race. Plaques for each of the 12 persons inducted into the HOF are on display.
Southbank Grille
The Southbank Grille is a public restaurant located on the second floor of the tower, and it offers an excellent view of the river and northbank through its' glass, north-facing wall.Construction details
- The concrete grid on the outside of the building is the only support needed to hold up the structure, leaving the interior completely available for use.
- The color of the concrete façade comes from White quartz sand and white cement bonded to the surface.
- The structural system consists of precast concrete floorplates and a poured concrete core
- Each of the exposed beams consist of fourteen precast units held together with high strength post-tensioned steel cables.
- The beams cantilever 42 feet from the columns as they taper upward and inward.
Honors
In honor of its 50th anniversary, the Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute went through the arduous process of selecting the Seven precast concrete “Wonders”. Their choices were: the Department of Housing & Urban Development Headquarters in Washington, D.C.; Gulf Life Tower in Jacksonville, Fla.; Disney World Monorail in Orlando, Fla.; TransAmerica Pyramid in San Francisco, Calif.; Aurora Justice Facility and Municipal Center in Aurora, Colo.; Sunshine Skyway Bridge in Tampa Bay, Fla.; and the Blue Cross-Blue Shield Parking Structure in North Haven, Conn.According to an Architecture article in Time Magazine, "(the) Gulf Life, placed in a shoddy, chaotic part of Jacksonville, is a tonic for its area, acts as an organizing beacon. And the bold Alcoa building…makes a positive contribution to San Francisco. Both buildings thus achieve excellence."