The area that was to become West Palm Beach was settled in the late 1870s and 1880s by a few hundred settlers who called the vicinity "Lake Worth Country." These settlers were a diverse community from different parts of the United States and the world. They included founding families such at the Potters and the Lainharts, who would go on to become leading members of the business community in the fledgling city. The first white settlers in Palm Beach County lived around Lake Worth, then an enclosed freshwater lake, named for Colonel William Jenkins Worth, who had fought in the Second Seminole War in Florida in 1842. Most settlers engaged in the growing of tropical fruits and vegetables for shipment the north via Lake Worth and the Indian River. By 1890, the U.S. Census counted over 200 people settled along Lake Worth in the vicinity of what would become West Palm Beach. The area at this time also boasted a hotel, the "Cocoanut House", a church, and a post office. The city was platted by Henry Flagler as a community to house the servants working in the two grand hotels on the neighboring island of Palm Beach, across Lake Worth in 1893, coinciding with the arrival of the Florida East Coast railroad. Flagler paid two area settlers, Captain Porter and Louie Hillhouse, a combined sum of $45,000 for the original town site, stretching from Clear Lake to Lake Worth.

On November 5, 1894, 78 people met at the "Calaboose" (the first jail and police station located at Clematis St. and Poinsettia, now Dixie Hwy.) and passed the motion to incorporate the Town of West Palm Beach in what was then Dade County (now Miami-Dade County). This made West Palm Beach the first incorporated municipality in Dade County and in South Florida. The town council quickly addressed the building codes and the tents and shanties were replaced by brick, brick veneer, and stone buildings. The city grew steadily during the 1890s and the first two decades of the 20th century, most residents were engaged in the tourist industry and related services or winter vegetable market and tropical fruit trade. In 1909, Palm Beach County was formed by the Florida State Legislature and West Palm Beach became the county seat. In 1916, a new neo-classical courthouse was opened, which has been painstakingly restored back to its original condition, and is now used as the local history museum.

The city grew rapidly in the 1920s as part of the Florida land boom. The population of West Palm Beach quadrupled from 1920 to 1927, and all kinds of businesses and public services grew along with it. Many of the city's landmark structures and preserved neighborhoods were constructed during this period. Originally, Flagler intended for his Florida East Coast Railway to have its terminus in West Palm, but after the area experienced a deep freeze, he chose to extend the railroad to Miami instead.

The land boom was already faltering when city was devastated by the 1928 Okeechobee hurricane. The Depression years of the 1930s were a quiet time for the area, which saw slight population growth and property values lower than during the 1920s. The city only recovered with the onset of World War II, which saw the construction of Palm Beach Air Force Base, which brought thousands of military personnel to the city. The base was vital to the allied war effort, as it provided an excellent training facility and had unparalleled access to North Africa for a North American city. Also during World War II, German U-Boats sank dozens of merchant ships and oil tankers just off the coast of West Palm Beach. Nearby Palm Beach was under black out conditions to minimize night visibility to German U-boats.

The 1950s saw another boom in population, partly due to the return of many soldiers and airmen who had served in the vicinity during the war. Also, the advent of air conditioning encouraged growth, as year-round living in a tropical climate became more acceptable to northerners. West Palm Beach became the one of the nation's fastest growing metropolitan areas during the 1950s; the city's borders spread west of Military Trail and south to Lake Clarke Shores. However, many of the city's residents still lived within a narrow six-block wide strip from the south to north end. The neighborhoods were strictly segregated between White and African-American populations, a legacy that the city still struggles with today. The primary shopping district remained downtown, centered around Clematis Street.

In the 1960s, Palm Beach County's first enclosed shopping mall, the Palm Beach Mall, and an indoor arena were completed. These projects led to a brief revival for the city, but in the 1970s and 1980s crime continued to be a serious issue and suburban sprawl continued to drain resources and business away from the old downtown area. By the early 1990s there were very high vacancy rates downtown, and serious levels of urban blight.

Since the 1990s, developments such as CityPlace and the preservation and renovation of 1920s architecture in the nightlife hub of Clematis Street have seen a downtown resurgence in the entertainment and shopping district. The city has also placed emphasis on neighborhood development and revitalization, in historic districts such as Northwood, Flamingo Park, and El Cid. Some neighborhoods still struggle with blight and crime, as well as lowered property values caused by the Great Recession, which hit the region particularly hard. Since the recovery, multiple new developments have been completed. The Palm Beach Mall, located at the Interstate 95/Palm Beach Lakes Boulevard interchange became abandoned as downtown revitalized - the very mall that initiated the original abandonment of the downtown. The mall was then redeveloped into the Palm Beach Fashion Outlets in February 2014. A station for All Aboard Florida, a high speed passenger rail service serving Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, and Orlando, is under construction as of July 2015.

Credit for the data above is given to the following website:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Palm_Beach,_Florida

Tags:   West Palm Beach Florida Sunshine State bridge County city downtown skyline building skyscraper condominium Trump Tower commercial property real estate metropolis church intracoastal waterway West Palm Beach Cityscape urban scene downtown views

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This is a 21-foot-tall bronze sculpture of a Tequest Indian standing virtually naked and blowing into a conch shell on the grounds of the Three Tequesta Point condominium tower at the mouth of the Miami River.

He stands on a nineteen-foot coral-rock pedestal surrounded by palm trees. Historians believe the last Tequesta in Florida died in the 1700s from diseases borne by the dreaded Spaniards, but this big bronze one will be impervious to such calamities.

Commissioned by the Swire Group, which has developed most of Brickell Key (also known as Claughton Island), the statue, whose Spanish name translates to Sentinel of the River, was created by Cuban-born sculptor Manuel Carbonell and unveiled in July 1999.

The work is best seen from Biscayne Bay by boat, though it is visible from the northern seawall of the river near the Hotel Inter-Continental."

Tags:   El Centinela del Rio Miami Florida structure statue Brickell Key island Biscayne Bay Sunshine State Miami-Dade County Sentinel of the River bronze ornament Brickell Island downtown Nikon D300 Jorge Molina Claughton Island) Cuban-born sculptor Manuel Carbonell Tequesta Indian coral rock pedestal 21-foot-tall bronze sculpture mouth of Miami River Conch Shell

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Riverplace Tower was the world's tallest pre-cast, post-tension concrete structure when completed in 1967. The outwardly visible concrete grid is the only support needed to hold up the entire building, freeing up the interior to be filled as desired.

The building's eight exposed columns taper as they rise.
Each of the exposed beams is composed of fourteen precast units bound together with high strength post-tensioned steel cables.

The structural system of this skyscraper consists of a poured concrete core and precast concrete floorplates.

The beams taper upward and inward as they cantilever 42 feet from the columns.

White quartz sand and white cement give the concrete facade of this building its color.

Tags:   1301 RIverplace Boulevard concrete precast concrete modernism exposed structure commercial office core plus outrigger The Gulf Life Insurance Company Tower SouthTrust Building Wachovia Welton Becket and Associates KBJ Architects urban downtown building Gulf Life Center Jacksonville Florida U.S.A. city cosmopolitan metropolitan

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The Riverplace Tower is a 28-floor office building on the south bank of the St. Johns River in Jacksonville, Florida. At the time of its construction, it was the tallest building in the state of Florida and was the defining landmark in Jacksonville's skyline. On April 18, 2012, the American Institute of Architects's Florida Chapter placed the building on its list of Florida Architecture: 100 Years. 100 Places as the Riverplace Tower / Formerly Gulf Life Tower.

The Auchter Company, Jacksonville's oldest general construction contractor, built the 542,000 square foot Gulf Life Tower for the Gulf Life Insurance Company in 1966. It was designed by the notable architect, Welton Becket and KBJ Architects. When completed in 1967, it was the tallest precast, post-tensioned concrete structure in the world.

It remained Florida's tallest for five years until Miami's One Biscayne Tower was constructed in 1972. It was Jacksonville's tallest for eight years until the Independent Life Building (now the Wells Fargo Center) was built in 1974. In 2007, 40 years after its construction, Riverplace Tower was still the fifth tallest building in Jacksonville.

Gulf Life Insurance Company was merged into American General Life of Houston in 1991 and the Jacksonville Gulf Life Tower was unneeded and destined to be sold. American General wanted $30 million, but the building was 24 years old and no longer a class "A" property. Several prospective buyers looked at the building, but the property stayed on the market for more than two years. For tax reasons, American General was desperate to sell during 1993 and accepted a cash offer from Gate Petroleum for substantially less than their asking price. Shortly thereafter, Gate began a multimillion-dollar renovation of the entire building and renamed it Riverplace Tower.

Building occupancy was 40% when the sale closed; within two years from the completion of the renovation, it had soared to nearly 95% and the building was restored to its former prominence.

The banner sign at the top of the building originally displayed "Gulf Life" in 1967. After Gulf Life was acquired by American General in 1991, it was changed to "SouthTrust", and the structure was known as the SouthTrust Building. When SouthTrust and Wachovia merged in 2005, "Wachovia" signage was installed, but it was removed January 22, 2011.

Since 1968 until its closure in 2016, the University Club of Jacksonville occupied the building's top floor. There were approximately 1,300 members: business executives of both genders; older, long-term associates; and young professionals. The private club was available to members and their guests, or ClubCorp affiliates. The facility was a hub for networking and entertaining clients, as well as providing conference rooms and offices for conducting business in private. The club also offered two full service athletic facilities; one co-ed and one for men only.

The structural system consists of precast concrete floorplates and a poured concrete core. The concrete grid on the outside of the building is the only support needed to hold up the structure, leaving the interior completely available for use. Each of the exposed beams consist of fourteen precast units held together with high strength post-tensioned steel cables. The beams cantilever 42 feet from the columns as they taper upward and inward. The color of the concrete façade comes from White quartz sand and white cement bonded to the surface.

The Gate River Run Hall of Fame was established in 2002 and is permanently located on the concourse level. Memorabilia from the event, which began in 1978, is on display, and a five-minute video gives visitors an overview of the race. Plaques for each of the 12 persons inducted into the HOF are on display.

The Village Bread Cafe is a public restaurant located on the second floor of the tower, and it offers an excellent view of the river and northbank through its glass, north-facing wall.

Credit for the data above is given to the following websites:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riverplace_Tower
www.emporis.com/buildings/118934/riverplace-tower-jackson...

© All Rights Reserved - you may not use this image in any form without my prior permission.

Tags:   Gulf Life Center building downtown urban KBJ Architects Welton Becket Associates Wachovia SouthTrust The Insurance Company Tower core plus outrigger commercial office exposed structure modernism precast concrete 1301 RIverplace Boulevard architecture complex high-rise skyscraper outdoor Jacksonville Florida U.S.A. Welton Becket and Associates long exposure fountain KBJ Architects 1301 Riverplace Boulevard Riverplace Tower Lingerfelt CommonWealth Partners Mid-century modern Structural expressionism Welton Becket Capital Partners Built: 1967 Floors: 28 Height: 432 ft (132 m) The Auchter Company SouthTrust Building south bank south Jacksonville

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The Riverplace Tower is a 28-floor office building on the south bank of the St. Johns River in Jacksonville, Florida. At the time of its construction, it was the tallest building in the state of Florida and was the defining landmark in Jacksonville's skyline. On April 18, 2012, the American Institute of Architects's Florida Chapter placed the building on its list of Florida Architecture: 100 Years. 100 Places as the Riverplace Tower / Formerly Gulf Life Tower.

The Auchter Company, Jacksonville's oldest general construction contractor, built the 542,000 square foot Gulf Life Tower for the Gulf Life Insurance Company in 1966. It was designed by the notable architect, Welton Becket and KBJ Architects. When completed in 1967, it was the tallest precast, post-tensioned concrete structure in the world.

It remained Florida's tallest for five years until Miami's One Biscayne Tower was constructed in 1972. It was Jacksonville's tallest for eight years until the Independent Life Building (now the Wells Fargo Center) was built in 1974. In 2007, 40 years after its construction, Riverplace Tower was still the fifth tallest building in Jacksonville.

Gulf Life Insurance Company was merged into American General Life of Houston in 1991 and the Jacksonville Gulf Life Tower was unneeded and destined to be sold. American General wanted $30 million, but the building was 24 years old and no longer a class "A" property. Several prospective buyers looked at the building, but the property stayed on the market for more than two years. For tax reasons, American General was desperate to sell during 1993 and accepted a cash offer from Gate Petroleum for substantially less than their asking price. Shortly thereafter, Gate began a multimillion-dollar renovation of the entire building and renamed it Riverplace Tower.

Building occupancy was 40% when the sale closed; within two years from the completion of the renovation, it had soared to nearly 95% and the building was restored to its former prominence.

The banner sign at the top of the building originally displayed "Gulf Life" in 1967. After Gulf Life was acquired by American General in 1991, it was changed to "SouthTrust", and the structure was known as the SouthTrust Building. When SouthTrust and Wachovia merged in 2005, "Wachovia" signage was installed, but it was removed January 22, 2011.

Since 1968 until its closure in 2016, the University Club of Jacksonville occupied the building's top floor. There were approximately 1,300 members: business executives of both genders; older, long-term associates; and young professionals. The private club was available to members and their guests, or ClubCorp affiliates. The facility was a hub for networking and entertaining clients, as well as providing conference rooms and offices for conducting business in private. The club also offered two full service athletic facilities; one co-ed and one for men only.

The structural system consists of precast concrete floorplates and a poured concrete core. The concrete grid on the outside of the building is the only support needed to hold up the structure, leaving the interior completely available for use. Each of the exposed beams consist of fourteen precast units held together with high strength post-tensioned steel cables. The beams cantilever 42 feet from the columns as they taper upward and inward. The color of the concrete façade comes from White quartz sand and white cement bonded to the surface.

The Gate River Run Hall of Fame was established in 2002 and is permanently located on the concourse level. Memorabilia from the event, which began in 1978, is on display, and a five-minute video gives visitors an overview of the race. Plaques for each of the 12 persons inducted into the HOF are on display.

The Village Bread Cafe is a public restaurant located on the second floor of the tower, and it offers an excellent view of the river and northbank through its glass, north-facing wall.

Credit for the data above is given to the following websites:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riverplace_Tower
www.emporis.com/buildings/118934/riverplace-tower-jackson...

© All Rights Reserved - you may not use this image in any form without my prior permission.

Tags:   Gulf Life Center building downtown urban KBJ Architects Welton Becket Associates Wachovia SouthTrust The Insurance Company Tower core plus outrigger commercial office exposed structure modernism precast concrete 1301 RIverplace Boulevard architecture complex high-rise skyscraper outdoor Gulf Life Center building downtown urban KBJ Architects Welton Becket and Associates Wachovia SouthTrust Building The Gulf Life Insurance Company Tower core plus outrigger commercial office exposed structure modernism precast concrete concrete 1301 RIverp Jacksonville Florida U.S.A. city cosmopolitan metropolitan Welton Becket and Associates KBJ Architects 1301 Riverplace Boulevard Riverplace Tower Lingerfelt CommonWealth Partners Mid-century modern Structural expressionism Welton Becket Capital Partners Built: 1967 Floors: 28 Height: 432 ft (132 m) The Auchter Company SouthTrust Building south bank south Jacksonville

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