121 Atlantic Place
| Company type | Bank |
|---|---|
| Industry | Banking and finance |
| Founded | 1903 |
| Founder | Edward W. Lane, Thomas P. Denham, Fred W. Hoyt |
| Fate | Merged with First Union in 1985 |
| Successor | First Union (later Wachovia, then Wells Fargo) |
| Headquarters | Jacksonville, Florida , United States |
121 Atlantic Place, once known as the Atlantic National Bank Building, is a notable historic skyscraper situated in Jacksonville, Florida. Constructed in 1909 to serve as the headquarters for the Atlantic National Bank, it stands at 121 West Forsyth Street. From 1909 until 1912, it held the distinction of being the tallest building in Jacksonville as well as the tallest in Florida, and it continues to function as an office building today.
History
The building was designed by the New York-based architectural firm Mowbray and Uffinger and erected between 1908 and 1909 by the James Stewart Company for the Atlantic National Bank. This steel-frame edifice rises ten stories, reaching a height of . The lower two levels are adorned with white Sylacauga marble, while the upper eight floors are finished with white terra cotta. Its exterior is richly decorated, featuring prominent two-story columns framing the main entrance.
This structure emerged victorious from a rivalry with the nearby Bisbee Building and Seminole Hotel to claim the title of Jacksonville’s inaugural skyscraper. Each of these three buildings reached ten stories and were located within a single block along Forsyth Street. Although the Bisbee Building was completed first, the Atlantic National Bank Building surpassed it in height at 41 meters, thereby becoming Florida’s tallest building until the Florida Life Building overtook it in 1912.
The Atlantic National Bank was established in 1903 by Edward W. Lane, Thomas P. Denham, and Fred W. Hoyt. The bank relocated its operations from the adjacent Dyal-Upchurch Building into this newly constructed headquarters. In 1926, the institution expanded by adding the Atlantic National Bank Annex on West Adams Street—now referred to as the Schultz Building—which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 1985, Atlantic National Bank merged with First Union, which was subsequently acquired by Wachovia and later by Wells Fargo.
Over time, ownership of the building changed hands, leading to its current name, 121 Atlantic Place; nevertheless, it remains an active office facility. Renovations during the early 2000s included a five-story addition on its western side. A unique characteristic of this property is a pedestrian tunnel linking it to the adjacent BB&T Bank Building, notable as the only remaining tunnel of its kind still operational in downtown Jacksonville. Originally constructed to facilitate secure passage between buildings, this tunnel has housed a small eatery called Benny's since 1985.