JACKSONVILLE, FLA. – Bradford Allen, a national full-service commercial real estate development and advisory firm, today announced it has completed the first phase of renovations at 701 San Marco on Jacksonville’s Southbank. The multi-million improvements included installation of a new fitness center, cafe and modernization of the two-story lobby.
Formerly known as the Prudential Building, 701 San Marco is a 706,746-square-foot office building in Jacksonville’s Southbank. The renovations incorporated upscale finishes and materials influenced by the nearby St. John River, elevating tenant amenities and further establishing the property as a premier Class A office property. The lobby is anchored by a refreshed café-style coffee bar.
“The renovations at 701 San Marco are breathing new life into this distinctive building, a landmark in Jacksonville,” said Jeff Bernstein, principal and co-founder of Bradford Allen. “This is now a hospitality-forward, functional space that aligns with how people work in the 21st century and reflects the continued evolution of the office experience toward wellness, flexibility and tenant comfort.”
Architecture firm Gensler led the reconceptualizing while Gilbane Building Co. served as contractor of the lobby space, which welcomes tenants and guests to the property’s 19-story east tower and a seven-story west wing, connected by a pedestrian walkway. Design elements were inspired by Jacksonville’s coastal landscape, expressed through a natural material palette including Venetian plaster, layered lighting elements and poured terrazzo and stone tile flooring.
A suspended focal art installation embraces the double-height lobby while the hospitality-forward seating and gathering areas support third-party collaboration and invite guests to linger before fluidly transitioning between destinations. Updated furniture, bespoke wall coverings and improved wayfinding round out the lobby experience.
Located on the second floor, the new 10,000-square-foot fitness center offers employees a state-of-the-art wellness amenity that stands apart from anything else in scale and sophistication within the Jacksonville office market. The fitness center features distinct strength, cardio and stretch spaces, as well as shower and locker facilities.
The curated art program at 701 San Marco features a collection of works from local and internationally recognized artists installed in the building’s interior, exterior and hybrid spaces. The signature installation, “River of Light,” from the late artist Daniel Goldsten, comprises a large-scale kinetic mural spanning two soffit walls. The mural’s aluminum and acrylic panels – arranged in a gradation of blues and greens that mimic moonlight reflecting on water – rotate when hit with ambient air currents. Goldsten also designed a suspended aluminum sculpture that pays homage to the St. Johns River. The sculpture continues the style of the adjacent mural with an expanded color palette and spans most of the lobby area.
Bradford Allen acquired 701 San Marco in 2022 and is currently underway on a second phase of improvements, scheduled for completion in October. To better activate the lobby, the renovations will include new artwork and refreshed food and beverage offerings. Elevator upgrades will feature cab modernizations and destination dispatch technology, while a modern visitor management system with new card readers and security cameras will ensure guest arrival is seamless and secure.
Situated along Jacksonville’s St. John’s River, at the confluence of I-95, I-10 and the Acosta Expressway, 701 San Marco provides convenient access to major highways, the Jacksonville Skyway, water taxis, buses and the riverwalk. Tenants benefit from proximity to a world-class healthcare hub, a vibrant FinTech community nestled among Fortune 500 firms, walkable parks, shops, dining, museums and entertainment, including the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars.
About Bradford Allen
Bradford Allen is a national commercial real estate services and investment firm headquartered in downtown Chicago. Founded in 2003 by Jeffrey Bernstein and Laurence Elbaum, the company’s vertically integrated platform services entrepreneurial, corporate and not-for-profit clients in every sector. Bradford Allen offers end-to-end solutions to owners, occupiers and investors through brokerage and advisory services, building operations and management, program management and consulting, and real estate investments and development. For more information, visit bradfordallen.com.
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Editors:
For more information, contact Matt Baker, [email protected], (312) 267-4512 or Traci Failla, [email protected], (312) 267-4516.