The city issued a permit Feb. 11 for Adams Interior Contractors Inc. to build-out space for TEA on the top three office floors of Riverplace Tower on the Downtown Southbank.
According to the permit, Adams Interior Contractors will renovate space on the 27th and 26th floors and part of the 25th floor of the high-rise at 1301 Riverplace Blvd. at a cost of $330,341.
Susan Boggs, vice president of administration and chief people officer, said Nov. 30 that the Jacksonville-based public power services firm hopes to relocate from TIAA Bank Center on the Northbank by summer 2022.
She said the leased offices at Riverplace Tower remain similar in size to TEA’s current space at about 31,000 square feet while being configured to better support how TEA’s employees work now.
The Energy Authority, which calls itself TEA, provides services for public power companies. JEA, Jacksonville’s public utility, is a founding member and one of its seven owners. JEA CEO Jay Stowe serves on its board.
TEA leases the 26th floor at the 30-story TIAA Bank Center, according to its website and state corporate records.
Boggs said TEA’s lease is expiring at 301 W. Bay St. after 14 years there and the company will move to take advantage of better lease terms.
TEA employs 170 people in Jacksonville and 50 near Seattle.
TEA, which is a nonprofit, says it partners with utilities to provide technology systems and other resources. It offers portfolio management, energy trading, analytics and advisory services. It has more than 60 public-power clients.
“As a national portfolio management company, we evaluate challenges, manage risks and execute solutions to help our clients maximize the value of their assets and meet their goals in a cost effective manner,” TEA says.
Its clients use natural gas, coal, wind, hydro, nuclear, biomass, fuel oil, petroleum coke and landfill gas.
The move to Riverplace Tower takes JEA to the top floor, previously used by anchor tenant Ameris Bank. Ameris moved its headquarters from Jacksonville to Atlanta in 2019 and downsized to one floor in the 28-story Riverplace Tower.
The 27th floor is the top office space, which Ameris occupied after renovating the former private University Club, which closed five years ago.
The 28th floor is a partial space formerly used as a club athletic facility.
“We will incorporate more collaborative workspaces into our office design and utilize technology to support virtual meetings as well,” Boggs said.
Boggs said TEA originally moved to TIAA Bank Center because of the large floor plan of about 31,000 square feet. She said TEA, founded in 1997, previously was in what is now VyStar Tower before relocating to TIAA Bank Center.