The Aetna Building (Jacksonville)
Encyclopedia
The Aetna Building is a 309 feet (94.2 m), 22-floor highrise building in downtown Jacksonville, Florida
. It is also known as Prudential Plaza I or One Prudential Plaza, and formerly as the Prudential Building. It is named for Aetna
, which has presence in the building.
Completed in 1955, it was the tallest building in the city for 13 years until surpassed by the Riverplace Tower
. It was "The Tallest Office Building in the South" and the tallest in Florida until NASA
's Vehicle Assembly Building
was completed in 1965.
and includes 1100 feet (335.3 m) of riverfrontage. A 2-ton piece of the Rock of Gibraltar
, once in the lobby, is now found in the courtyard on the riverfront. The building was used as background in scenes from the film, Creature From the Black Lagoon
.
A sister building, Prudential Plaza II, was constructed next door in 1985. The Prudential Building underwent a major renovation in 1988.
In 1999, Aetna
acquired the Prudential HealthCare
business for $1 billion, and the signage was changed to "Aetna". The building is officially known as Prudential Plaza I. Another major renovation was completed in 2002 after 153000 sq ft (14,214.2 m²) was vacated by Aetna. The makeover also included construction of a 1,100-space parking garage by Elkins Constructors
. On February 21, 2002 the Prudential Plaza I building was renamed 841 Prudential Drive.
On January 23, 2004, Ocwen sold 841 Prudential Drive to South Shore Group for $39 million. The building's name reverted back to Aetna Building.
At the January 31, 2008 meeting of the Downtown Development Review Board (DDRB) of the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission (JEDC), plans were tenatively approved for a 128-slip dockage facility to be named The South Shore Marina & Riverwalk at the Aetna Building. The project will use a design similar to that used by South Beach
marinas. Landscape and lighting improvements will be made to the existing Jacksonville Riverwalk
. Permits from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection
and the United States Army Corps of Engineers
had already been obtained.
The 12th floor is occupied by the Regus
Aetna Center, which provides executive office suites to businesses needing temporary office space.
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 is also known as Prudential Plaza I or One Prudential Plaza, and formerly as the Prudential Building. It is named for Aetna
Aetna
Aetna, Inc. is an American health insurance company, providing a range of traditional and consumer directed health care insurance products and related services, including medical, pharmaceutical, dental, behavioral health, group life, long-term care, and disability plans, and medical management...
, which has presence in the building.
Completed in 1955, it was the tallest building in the city for 13 years until surpassed by the Riverplace Tower
Riverplace Tower
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.-History:The Auchter Company,...
. It was "The Tallest Office Building in the South" and the tallest in Florida until NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
's Vehicle Assembly Building
Vehicle Assembly Building
The Vehicle Assembly Building, or VAB, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center was used to assemble and house American manned launch vehicles from 1968-2011. It is the fourth largest building in the world by volume...
was completed in 1965.
Details
Originally known as the Prudential Building, it was constructed in 1955 for Prudential Insurance, which had selected Jacksonville as its Southeastern headquarters. Construction materials included Alabama limestone, North Carolina pink granite and Georgia marble. The 13 acres (52,609.2 m²) property is situated on the south/east bank of the St. Johns RiverSt. Johns River
The St. Johns River is the longest river in the U.S. state of Florida and its most significant for commercial and recreational use. At long, it winds through or borders twelve counties, three of which are the state's largest. The drop in elevation from the headwaters to the mouth is less than ;...
and includes 1100 feet (335.3 m) of riverfrontage. A 2-ton piece of the Rock of Gibraltar
Rock of Gibraltar
The Rock of Gibraltar is a monolithic limestone promontory located in Gibraltar, off the southwestern tip of Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. It is high...
, once in the lobby, is now found in the courtyard on the riverfront. The building was used as background in scenes from the film, Creature From the Black Lagoon
Creature from the Black Lagoon
Creature from the Black Lagoon is a 1954 monster horror film directed by Jack Arnold, and starring Richard Carlson, Julia Adams, Richard Denning, Antonio Moreno, and Whit Bissell. The eponymous creature was played by Ben Chapman on land and Ricou Browning in underwater scenes...
.
A sister building, Prudential Plaza II, was constructed next door in 1985. The Prudential Building underwent a major renovation in 1988.
Aetna
Ocwen Financial Corp. completed the $36 million purchase of the Prudential Plaza One building in August, 1998.In 1999, Aetna
Aetna
Aetna, Inc. is an American health insurance company, providing a range of traditional and consumer directed health care insurance products and related services, including medical, pharmaceutical, dental, behavioral health, group life, long-term care, and disability plans, and medical management...
acquired the Prudential HealthCare
Prudential Financial
The Prudential Insurance Company of America , also known as Prudential Financial, Inc., is a Fortune Global 500 and Fortune 500 company whose subsidiaries provide insurance, investment management, and other financial products and services to both retail and institutional customers throughout the...
business for $1 billion, and the signage was changed to "Aetna". The building is officially known as Prudential Plaza I. Another major renovation was completed in 2002 after 153000 sq ft (14,214.2 m²) was vacated by Aetna. The makeover also included construction of a 1,100-space parking garage by Elkins Constructors
Elkins Constructors
Elkins Constructors is a privately held corporation headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida founded in 1955 by Martin Elkins. Purchased in 1984 by a group of investors which included current CEO, Barry Allred. The company is one of Florida's largest privately held construction companies and the...
. On February 21, 2002 the Prudential Plaza I building was renamed 841 Prudential Drive.
On January 23, 2004, Ocwen sold 841 Prudential Drive to South Shore Group for $39 million. The building's name reverted back to Aetna Building.
At the January 31, 2008 meeting of the Downtown Development Review Board (DDRB) of the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission (JEDC), plans were tenatively approved for a 128-slip dockage facility to be named The South Shore Marina & Riverwalk at the Aetna Building. The project will use a design similar to that used by South Beach
South Beach
South Beach, also nicknamed SoBe, is a neighborhood in the city of Miami Beach, Florida, United States. It is the area south of Indian Creek and encompasses roughly the southernmost 23 blocks of the main barrier island that separates the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay.This area was the first...
marinas. Landscape and lighting improvements will be made to the existing Jacksonville Riverwalk
Jacksonville Riverwalk
The Jacksonville Riverwalks are located on the north and south banks of the St. Johns River in downtown Jacksonville, Florida.The Riverwalk was originally a boardwalk on the south bank of the St. Johns River that opened Nov. 8, 1985. It was intended as a venue where tourists and local residents...
. Permits from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection
Florida Department of Environmental Protection
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection is the Florida government agency charged with environmental protection.-History:...
and the United States Army Corps of Engineers
United States Army Corps of Engineers
The United States Army Corps of Engineers is a federal agency and a major Army command made up of some 38,000 civilian and military personnel, making it the world's largest public engineering, design and construction management agency...
had already been obtained.
Tenants
The building was the original home of what is now the River Club of Jacksonville, a private business club that relocated to building now known as the Wells Fargo Center in 1976.The 12th floor is occupied by the Regus
Regus
Regus plc is a multinational corporation that provides serviced office accommodation in business centres worldwide. As of March 2011, it operates 1,100 business centres in 85 countries. The Company is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index...
Aetna Center, which provides executive office suites to businesses needing temporary office space.