Print ArticleImmediately following the Great Fire of 1901, the skyscraper made its way to Jacksonville. Over the decades to follow, the city's tallest building has changed nine times. Here's a look at those buildings.
8. Independent Life Building (now Wells Fargo Center) 
Year completed: 1974
Height: 535 feet/ 37 stories
This skyscraper was built by the Independent Life and Accident Insurance Company. The design of the building actually won an award for “Outstanding Achievement in Design” by the Jacksonville Chapter of the American Institute of Architects. The design features a sloping base with large corner frames that gave it a distinct image, and caused it to become an identifying landmark for the city.
Other notable features include a four story atrium of tropical vegetation where the public enters, a 360-seat auditorium, and a first floor with a bank, restaurants and several retail stores.
The Independent Life Building held the title of tallest in Florida until One Tampa City Center was completed in 1981. In 1995, Independent Life was acquired by the American General Life Insurance Company, who moved the operations to Tennessee. As a result, the Independent Life Building was sold to AccuStaff, who changed the name to the AccuStaff Building. It was renamed the Modis building in 2002, before finally being rebranded as the Wells Fargo Center.
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