The city issued permits this week for renovations to the Wells Fargo Center lobby and the building’s first-floor Atrium Cafe & Grill as part of a $12.5 million project to update the 46-year-old tower.
Dav-Lin Interior Contractors Inc. is the contractor for the $1.935 million project that comprises $1.74 million for the lobby and $194,013 for the cafe. The city issued permits for the cafe May 17 and the lobby May 18.
Larry Chapman, managing director of landlord Miami-based Banyan Street Capital, said May 18 the timing for the work depends on when the contractor can assemble the materials on the site.
He said that with worldwide logistics issues affecting delivery of building materials, he expects construction might start in several weeks but no timeline has been established.
No decision has been made, but he said the Atrium Cafe might be able to remain in operation with takeout and with limited seating in the lobby because the “back of house” kitchen area is not affected.
Banyan Street Capital said previously the 37-story tower is undergoing lobby, cafe and common area renovation along with elevator upgrades that have begun.
Chapman said April 28 the lobby, elevators and Atrium Cafe & Grill as well as the common area bathrooms and corridors on the multitenant floors will be renovated over the next seven months.
“It is going to set a whole new standard for Downtown Jacksonville,” he said.
Kasper Architects + Associates is the architect.
The lobby will be renovated with extensive new furniture, open seating, terrazzo floors and other up-to-date elements. The lobby plants, rocks, water features and bubbling fountains will be removed.
The Atrium Cafe will be renovated and opened to the lobby, where its owners also will operate a coffee and wine bar.
Chapman said 11 multitenant floors will be upgraded. Four have been completed and the others will be done by the end of 2022.
Wells Fargo Center, built in 1975 as the Independent Life Building, occupies a block at 1 Independent Drive W.
It has 653,917 square feet of leasable space among 35 tenant floors and two levels of equipment. Chapman said it is 84% leased.
Banyan Street Capital will add a first-floor fitness center and also build-out a conference center at a space to be determined after more tenants return from the pandemic.
Chapman said work on the elevators started in late 2019. He expects the project to be completed by the end of 2023.
The ownership partnership said in December it planned the $12.5 million in property improvements, including $2.6 million for lobby renovations and $4.2 million for elevator modernization.
