Laura Street Trio facts for kids
The Laura Street Trio is a special group of three historic buildings in downtown Jacksonville, Florida. These buildings are the Florida Life Building, the Bisbee Building, and the Old Florida National Bank (also known as the Marble Bank). They were built after a huge fire in 1901 that destroyed much of the city. These buildings are important because of their unique architecture, but they have needed a lot of repair.
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Exploring the Laura Street Trio Buildings
This section will tell you more about each of the three buildings that make up the Laura Street Trio.
The Old Florida National Bank: A Marble Masterpiece
The Old Florida National Bank, often called the Marble Bank, is the oldest building in the Trio. It sits at the corner of Forsyth and Laura Streets. It was built in 1902, right after the Great Fire of 1901 had burned down most of downtown Jacksonville.
An architect named Edward H. Glidden designed it in a Classical Revival style. This means it looked like old Greek or Roman buildings. In 1905, a bank called Florida Bank & Trust bought it. They made changes and added more space. In 1916, it was updated again to have a big banking room with a skylight and fancy decorations.
Later, in the 1950s, some changes covered up the skylight and details. But in 1976, new owners removed these changes. They worked hard to make the building look like its original design. However, by the 1990s, the building was sold again. Its new owners let it fall apart quite a bit.
The Bisbee Building: Jacksonville's First Skyscraper
The Bisbee Building was the second of the three buildings to be constructed. It was built between 1908 and 1909, right next to the Marble Bank on Forsyth Street. A famous Jacksonville architect, Henry J. Klutho, designed it. He used a style called Chicago School mixed with Prairie Style.
The Bisbee Building was part of a race to build Jacksonville's first skyscraper. It competed with two other tall projects. The Bisbee won the race, becoming the city's first skyscraper. However, another building, 121 Atlantic Place, was a little taller. This made 121 Atlantic Place the tallest building in Florida at that time.
The Bisbee Building was also special because it was the first tall building in the Southern United States made of reinforced concrete. It was first designed to be very narrow. But many people wanted office space there. So, the owner asked Klutho to make it wider. Like the other buildings, the Bisbee Building later became empty and started to decay.
The Florida Life Building: A Tall and Elegant Design
The Florida Life Building was also designed by Henry J. Klutho. It was built between 1911 and 1912. This building stands next to the back wall of the Marble Bank. It is the only one of the Trio that faces Laura Street directly.
When it was built, the Florida Life Building was 45 meters (about 148 feet) tall and had 11 floors. This made it the tallest building in Jacksonville and Florida at the time. However, another building became taller less than a year later.
Even so, many people think the Florida Life Building is a perfect example of a skyscraper. It has a narrow and well-balanced tower. Like the Bisbee Building, it shows Klutho's Chicago-influenced Prairie Style. In 2012, the AIA in Florida listed it as one of "Florida Architecture: 100 Years. 100 Places."
The Florida Life Insurance Company built this building. But the company closed in 1915. The building was then owned by different companies over the years. In 1994, its owners removed some original decorations from the top floor. This caused some damage to the building's structure. Like the other buildings, the Florida Life Building also fell into disrepair.
Plans to Restore the Laura Street Trio
In the 2000s, people realized that the Laura Street Trio buildings were very important. They were also in danger of falling apart. In 2002, the City of Jacksonville bought all three buildings. The city wanted to give them to a company that could fix them up.
A developer named Cameron Kuhn bought the Trio. He also bought another nearby building. But he faced financial problems in 2008 and could not restore them. The project then stopped for a while.
In 2010, a new plan was made. An investment group and another company suggested a $70 million plan. This plan would restore the Laura Street Trio and the other building. It would also build a fifth new building. In 2011, they asked for money to help with the first part of the project. Today, the Trio is being renovated to become a Courtyard Marriot Hotel.
Images for kids
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Bisbee building in 1910s
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Florida National Bank and Bisbee Building in 1910.
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Florida Life building under construction in 1911
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Laura Street Trio around 1920.
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Florida National Bank in 2011
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Ruins of the Bisbee building in 2011
