Jacksonville-based global design-build company Stellar Group Inc. said two years ago in March 2024 that it would make a “substantial” investment in revitalizing its Jacksonville campus.
As that continues to play out, the city issued a permit March 18 for Stellar to make interior renovations at its Mandarin-area headquarters building at a project cost of $4 million.
The permit calls for renovations on all three floors of the west building at the 2900 Hartley Road campus at northwest Interstate 295 and San Jose Boulevard.
Plans show offices, open office space, conference and team rooms and a pre-function area.
Stellar Group is the contractor. Kasper Architects + Associates Inc. of Jacksonville is the architect.
Stellar was established 41 years ago.
Property records show Stellar occupies four buildings totaling about 80,600 square feet on almost 4 acres at the campus. The structures were built from 1987 through 1991.
Stellar Marketing Director Sydney Perry said by email March 11 that the phase now permitted focuses on the West Building offices.
“We’re continuing to update our office spaces to enhance the employee experience and modernize the facility,” she said, noting items such as standup desks and natural lighting.
Perry said the project cost is accurate now but could be adjusted as construction progresses.
After the West Building, Stellar intends to renovate offices on the second floor of the Central Building, she said.
“Ultimately, all areas of HQ will be brought up to date,” Perry said.
CEO Brian Kappele said in a March 2024 news release that Stellar’s focus “is on employee engagement and welfare throughout our campus improvement efforts.”
Stellar did not release the projected investment in the improvements.
Stellar said then that it has 277 employees in Jacksonville. It has more than 750 employees in 50 locations serving commercial, industrial and public sector markets across the U.S. and globally.
The company creates food processing plants, refrigerated warehouses, distribution centers, commercial buildings and military facilities.
Stellar says it was established in 1985 as a 12-person company specializing in refrigeration contracting, maintenance, service and parts supply and then branched out to become a diversified contracting firm.
Among the headquarters permits issued since January 2024 were build-out of a fitness and wellness center at $1.72 million and site work at $82,000; office space renovations on the second and third floors on the east side of Building 2 at $2.1 million; site clearing for a corporate campus park on almost an acre at $352,000; and renovation of space on the ground floor of a building into the nutrition center at $1.28 million. Plans for that center show an open area and lounge, a grab-and-go counter, beverage counter and break counter.
Stellar said in 2024 the upgrades include improved sound transmission, dimmable energy-efficient LED lighting, occupancy sensors, solar window shading and ergonomic office workstations.
The company will also make technology improvements throughout the campus, such as dedicated soundproof meeting and conference rooms.