Wells Fargo Center (Jacksonville) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wells Fargo Center |
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Water Street entrance
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| Former names |
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| General information | |
| Type | Office |
| Architectural style | Modernist |
| Location |
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| Coordinates | 30°19′33″N 81°39′32″W / 30.32579°N 81.65888°W |
| Construction started | 1972 |
| Completed | 1974 |
| Opening | 1974 |
| Height | |
| Antenna spire | 645 ft (197 m) |
| Roof | 535 ft (163 m) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 37 |
| Lifts/elevators | 15 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | KBJ Architects |
The Wells Fargo Center is a very tall building, called a skyscraper, located in downtown Jacksonville, Florida. It stands at the corner of Bay and Laura streets. This building is about 535 feet (163 meters) tall. It is the second-tallest building in Jacksonville.
The building was first known as the Independent Life Building. Later, it was called the Modis Building. In 2011, the company Wells Fargo took over the building's name.
History of the Wells Fargo Center
This tall building was finished in 1974. It was built for the Independent Life and Accident Insurance Company. That is why it was first named the Independent Life Building. KBJ Architects designed the building. They even won an award for their design.
The architects wanted the building to look special. They designed it with a sloped base and big corner frames. This made the building stand out in Jacksonville. It became an easy-to-spot landmark for the city.
In 1995, another company bought Independent Life. This company was called American General Life Insurance Company. Over time, Independent Life's work moved to Nashville, Tennessee. The building was then sold to a new owner.
A Jacksonville company called AccuStaff moved into the building. They also bought the right to name the building. So, it became the AccuStaff Building. In 2002, AccuStaff changed its name to MPS Group. They renamed the building the Modis Building, after one of their main brands. You could even see the Modis signs on the building.
In 2009, a company from Switzerland called Adecco Group bought MPS Group. Adecco Group decided to move the company's offices to the suburbs of Jacksonville. This move was finished in 2011. The Modis signs were taken down, and the building was briefly called Independent Square again.
In May 2011, Wells Fargo announced they would move their local employees into the building. Wells Fargo had recently bought another financial company called Wachovia. The Wells Fargo signs went up on the building on September 26, 2011. All the employees moved in by April 2012.
About the Building and Its Tenants
The Wells Fargo Center has 37 floors. When it was built in 1974, it was the tallest building in Florida! It held that title until 1981. It remained the tallest building in Jacksonville until 1990. That is when the Bank of America Tower became taller.
The building takes up a whole city block in downtown Jacksonville. One cool part of the building is a four-story atrium. An atrium is a large, open space inside a building. This one has lots of tropical plants. It is where people enter the building.
The first floor also used to have an auditorium. It could seat 360 people. There was also a bank, restaurants, and shops. Parkway Properties helps manage the building.
One important business in the Wells Fargo Center is the River Club of Jacksonville. This is a private club for business people. It is located on the very top two floors of the building. The club started in 1954. It moved to its current spot in the Wells Fargo Center in 1976.
In September 2017, a big storm called Hurricane Irma hit Jacksonville. The storm caused a lot of flooding in the downtown area. The parking garage of the Wells Fargo Center was flooded. The building had to close for a short time. It reopened on September 29.
Gallery
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Modis signage in 2000
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Aerial view in 2010
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Wells Fargo Center with Go Jaguars lights in 2011
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Interior
