A year after breaking ground, Ryan Companies US Inc. is preparing to start the interior build-out of JEA’s new corporate headquarters.
The city is reviewing Ryan’s permit application for the $17 million tenant improvement job for the seven-story office building at 225 Pearl St.
Minneapolis-based Ryan owns the 1.54-acre Downtown site. The city-owned electric and water utility will lease the completed building.
JEA Managing Director and CEO Jay Stowe said in an Oct. 7 memo that interior work is expected to begin in November. RS&H Inc. is the architect.
“RS&H is moving from design development drawings to construction drawings for the building interiors,” the memo says.
“Tenant improvement (interiors) construction is expected to commence later in November. The interiors will offer a variety of workspaces to support the flexible work model.”
Ryan officially broke ground on the project Oct. 22, 2020, after beginning site work in August 2020.
The nearly $68 million project, which also includes an eight-level, 656-space parking garage, is near the Duval County Courthouse and the Bryan Simpson U.S. Courthouse.
JEA approved the lease with Ryan in June 2019 under the previous board before abandoning a plan to sell the utility and firing previous Managing Director and CEO Aaron Zahn.
The current board negotiated an amended lease with Ryan in June 2020, reducing the size and scope of the project.
Stowe’s memo says that supports “the recent decision to migrate to a flexible hybrid work model post COVID-19 restrictions.”