With the renovation of the JAX Chamber headquarters building Downtown nearing completion, chamber officials hosted a hard-hat tour of the building Friday.
Incoming chamber President and CEO Daniel Davis and Vice President of Operations Anna Valent led the tour of the building that opened in 1981.
Valent said part of the renovation is to replace the original HVAC system and roof on the structure for the first time.
Below ground, 78 piles 30-35 feet deep have been added to support the foundation, which originally was built on "a pile of rubble," Valent said.
The interior has been completely redesigned with 21st-century materials, fixtures and business amenities.
Several spaces on the first and third floors have been redesigned for event accommodations and to make the building more accessible to the community.
Valent said another addition is a catering kitchen adjacent to the Hadlow Board Room on the third floor.
Outside the building, an "International Plaza" will be built that features flagpoles for 26 international banners representing the more than 80 companies that have North American or worldwide headquarters in Jacksonville.
"The chamber is often the first stop for a company thinking of moving to Jacksonville. The entire space is first-class. We're very proud of that," said Davis.
Valent said the staff is scheduled to move back into the building in July and the official ribbon-cutting will be scheduled in January when the exterior improvements are complete.
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