The University of North Florida Student Union received the most accolades among Jacksonville buildings in a statewide online competition that featured 100 of the state’s architecturally significant buildings.
The Florida Chapter of The American Institute of Architects released results of its “Top 100 Buildings” competition Wednesday that had more than 2.4 million votes.
The UNF Student Union earned top billings under the “Architects’ Favorite” and “Educational” categories.
It placed fourth in the top five overall buildings in the competition, as selected by the public.
The Florida Theatre building earned top honor in the “Performing Arts” building category.
St. Paul’s by-the-Sea Episcopal Church in Jacksonville Beach placed second in the architects’ category and finished sixth overall in the public’s vote for overall building.
The Bolles School, formerly the San Jose Hotel, also placed in the top 20, coming in No. 14.
Outside the top 20, other area structures were named, listed here in the order as voted by the public:
• The Florida Theatre Building
• Epping Forest Yacht Club
• Jacksonville Public Library — Main Library
• Unitarian Universalist Church
• The Library, formerly Haydon Burns Library
• St. James Building, also known as City Hall
• Chart House Restaurant
• Riverside Baptist Church
• Milam House
• William Morgan House
• Riverplace Tower, formerly Gulf Life Tower
• Florida Life Tower
• Westminster Woods, formerly Wesley Manor Retirement Village
The top five buildings in the state, as voted on by the public, were the Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami Beach; Mandi’s Chapel in Live Oak; Baughman Center at the University of Florida in Gainesville; UNF Student Union building; and Mar-a-Lago National Historic Landmark in Palm Beach.
Mandi’s Chapel was built by Jacksonville business and civic leader Tom Petway in memory of his daughter, with the design by Jacksonville architect John Zona. The Baughman Center also was designed by Zona.
The institute selected the buildings that represented the “best architectural achievement” and launched the competition in March as part of its 100th anniversary. Gov. Rick Scott proclaimed April as Architecture Month.