The Jessie Ball duPont Center is the renovation of the former Haydon Burns Public Library that was constructed in 1965.
The historic building has been repurposed into an office center and gathering place for philanthropic and nonprofit organizations bringing approximately 250 employees to downtown. The interior of the 52-year-old building has been updated to 21st century standards blending harmoniously with the mid-century modern design of the original structure while providing a highly energy efficient facility.
The programmatic concept for the building is to co-locate numerous local nonprofits so they might benefit from shared resources, such as meeting rooms, copy areas, break areas, and technology systems. In addition to reducing operating costs, this sharing of facilities promotes collaboration among the tenants in addressing the community needs. The facility was designed to raise the visibility of the nonprofit sector in Jacksonville’s civic life and create a space where the public can learn about the nonprofit sector’s significance and impact.
Project Scope included Program development, Design and Construction for Core & Shell renovations, all Tenant Improvement packages, Interior Design, and Furniture Design.
Tenants include the following: Baptist Health’s Office of Social Responsibility, Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Northeast Florida, Catholic Charities, CBRE Management, The Delores Barr Weaver Policy Center for Girls, Family Foundations, First Coast YMCA, FSCJ Center for Civic Engagement, Jacksonville Public Education Fund, Jacksonville Speech & Hearing, Jessie Ball duPont Fund, Learn to Read Jacksonville, Leadership Jacksonville, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Nonprofit Center of NE Florida, Novus Insight, United Way of Northeast Florida, and USGBC Florida Chapter.
Awards
- 2015 NAIOP NE FL Chapter Construction Project of the Year
- 2015 NAIOP NE FL Chapter Green Project of the Year
- 2015 AIA Test of Time Award
- 2015 Urban Land Institute Award of Excellence
- 2015 ABC, Project of the Year
- 2015 ABC, Merit Choice Award
- 2015 ABC, Eagle Award for Historic Renovation
- 2016 AIA Jacksonville Award of Merit
- 2016 City of Jacksonville, Historic Preservation Award
- 2016-2019 Energy Start Certified Building – 99% Rating
- LEED Certified Gold
*Individual experience by Principal Architect Brooke A. Robbins, AIA
*Jessie Ball duPont Center – Individual experience by Brooke A. Robbins, AIA from previous employment
**Photos 2, 3, 4 by Bob Willis
Client:
Jessie Ball duPont Fund
Location:
Jacksonville, Florida
Project Area:
130,000 ft2
Year Built:
1965
Renovation:
2015-2017 (continuing to present)