Jacksonville-based Stellar continues its investment at its Mandarin campus at 2900 Hartley Road.
Having opened its on-campus nutrition center, Stellar also is working on its proposed fitness center at 2955 Hartley Road on the property.
Stellar Group Inc., the design, engineering, construction, refrigeration and mechanical services firm established 39 years ago, is the contractor for the two-story, 11,876-square-foot project.
The campus is at northwest Interstate 295 and San Jose Boulevard.
The city is reviewing a permit application and civil engineering plans for the estimated $1.72 million fitness center project.
Stellar said in March that the two-story fitness and wellness center is designed to redefine the company’s approach to health and well-being.
It will offer cardio equipment, designated spaces for commercial gym free weights, specialized areas for heavy lifting and Olympic-style workouts, High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) rooms, group fitness, access to certified trainers and recovery rooms.
Amenities will include saunas and cold plunge pools.
The space comprises 6,011 square feet on the ground floor and 5,865 square feet on the second floor, totaling 11,876 square feet.
Jacksonville-based kasper architects + associates inc. is the architect. Goodson, Bergen & Associates Consulting Engineers Inc., also of Jacksonville, is the civil engineer.
Stellar announced March 4 the fitness and wellness center would be completed by October.
The release said other wellness enhancements to the campus will include outdoor walking zones, pickleball and basketball courts, obstacle courses and additional amenities to encourage physical fitness.
Plans for the first floor of the fitness center show commercial gym equipment and the HIIT center.
The second floor includes separate men’s and women’s wellness areas with lockers, showers, cold plunges and saunas. There are fitness studios and a cardio area.
A narrative with the city plans says an existing commercial office building is being improved to serve as a fitness center for employees and is not open to the public.
‘Substantial’ investment in campus
Stellar said in March it will make a “substantial” investment in revitalizing its Jacksonville campus, but did not release the amount.
In addition to the fitness and wellness center, the headquarters renovation includes improvements to office work environments and an on-campus 6,500-square-foot nutrition center that opened April 16.
“Our focus is on employee engagement and welfare throughout our campus improvement efforts,” CEO Brian Kappele said in the March news release.
“Stellar’s investment in employee amenities reinforces our commitment to a workplace that supports individual well-being and collective success,” said Chief Human Resources Officer Stacey King, in the release.
The city issued permits Jan. 26 for the $1.28 million renovation of office space on the ground floor of a building into the nutrition center.
Plans show an open area and lounge, a grab-and-go counter, beverage counter and break counter.
The nutrition center offerings range from fresh smoothies to hot meals. It offers free beverages and food for employees.
Stellar said its grand-opening event featured partnerships with food vendors, including Kathy’s Table, a Jacksonville meal prep service that prepares and delivers gluten- and dairy-free meals; and Aramark, a Philadelphia-based food service company that will provide grab-and-go food options for breakfast, lunch and snacks.
Stellar said all of the food on campus – food trucks, grab-and-go meals, drinks, Kathy’s Table – is free for employees who will check out via a smartphone app at the kiosks to manage inventory and usage.
Stellar said previously the center will serve as a social hub for coworkers across different business units, providing a casual setting for department gatherings and interactions.
Stellar said its nutrition center is one of the approaches the company is taking to promote employee welfare “and recognize that a thriving workplace is built upon a healthy and productive workforce.”
The company said it also is upgrading its offices with a modernized workspace to enhance productivity, minimize distractions and provide individual private offices.
Additional office renovations are underway.
Property records show Stellar occupies four buildings totaling about 80,600 square feet on almost 4 acres at the campus. The structures were built from 1987 through 1991.
The city separately issued a permit for an almost $1.7 million renovation of 8,322 square feet of office space for Stellar on the second floor on the east side of Building 2.
Stellar said it has 277 employees in Jacksonville. It has more than 750 employees in 50 locations serving commercial, industrial and public sector markets across the U.S. and globally.
The company creates food processing plants, refrigerated warehouses, distribution centers, commercial buildings and military facilities.
Stellar says it was established in 1985 as a 12-person company specializing in refrigeration contracting, maintenance, service and parts supply and then branched out to become a diversified contracting firm.