| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Architecture & Interior Design |
| Founded | 1946 |
| Headquarters | Jacksonville, Florida, USA |
| Key people | William T. Morris, principal Tom Rensing, principal Craig Kirkwood, principal |
| Revenue | $157.9 million (2005) |
| Website | www.kbj.com |
KBJ Architects, Inc. (KBJ) is an American architectural firm based in Jacksonville, Florida. The firm designed 17 of the city's 30 tallest buildings and "created Jacksonville's modern skyline", according to The Florida Times-Union newspaper.[1] The firm designed the first high-rise in downtown Jacksonville, the 22-story Aetna Building, which opened in 1955.[2] It took pride in "having the second-largest number of architects of any Florida firm", according to a 1997 article in The Florida Times-Union.[3]
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Roy A. Benjamin (1888-1963) moved from Ocala to Jacksonville soon after the Great Fire of 1901 and designed many notable buildings in Jacksonville and surrounding areas. His most famous structures were theaters, although most of them have since been demolished. He was one of Jacksonville's most talented and prolific architects.[4]
Three University of Florida alumni—William D. Kemp, Franklin S. Bunch and William K. Jackson—purchased Benjamin's architectural firm when he retired after World War II and renamed it Kemp, Bunch and Jackson in 1946. KBJ Architects has been in practice for more than 6 decades and is the oldest architectural firm in Florida. The company also maintains a branch office in downtown Orlando, Florida.
Each of the founders focused on one aspect of the firm, which worked out superbly. Kemp specialized in the business side of projects. Bunch was known for being the expert in the construction and technical aspects of architecture, and Jackson was the lead designer.
In addition to working downtown Jacksonville, they work in north and central Florida. Much of the company’s work is for existing clients, who include international and private corporations, developers, institutions, public authorities, as well as federal, state, and local governments.
KBJ designed buildings in Jacksonville include:[7]
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The firm also developed the design standards for residential developments at the Deerwood Country Club and at Amelia Island Plantation north of Jacksonville. In Orlando, KBJ designed the First National Bank and Hartford Insurance buildings; in Gainesville, the Delta Tau Delta fraternity house and Tigert Hall, the University of Florida Administration building; the Quarterdeck Club in Miami and the Occidental Life building in Raleigh.[5]
In June 2002, KBJ Architects, Rink Reynolds, Cannon Design and Spillis Candela were the final four candidates under consideration for designing the planned Duval County Courthouse Complex.[8] When Cannon Design was chosen, KBJ appealed the award, claiming that Cannon's design was inconsistent with the specifications for size and budget set by the city, but the administration of Mayor John Delaney found no grounds for the award to be rescinded. The project continued under Cannon into the term of Mayor John Peyton, but costs and the size of the project fluctuated. Peyton stopped work on the project and fired Cannon and construction managers Skanska Dynamic Partners.[8]
The project was re-bid in 2006, and the team of Perry-McCall Construction and The Auchter Company were initially awarded the contract.[9] When it was discovered that the Auchter Company had financial troubles, the contract was withdrawn. Second place bidder, Turner Construction Company, which is partnered with Technical Construction Services Group and KBJ Architects, was given an opportunity to negotiate a contract with the city in July 2007, by approval of the Competitive Sealed Proposal Evaluation Committee.