Jacksonville Business Journal
Gateway Jax taps JLL for 100,000-square-foot Class A office tower in downtown
By Leah Foreman – Reporter, Jacksonville Business Journal | Mar 31, 2026
Pearl Square will soon bring the first new multi-tenant office product to downtown in over 20 years and JLL has been tapped to orchestrate leasing efforts for it.
Located at 655 Pearl St., the Class A building will be the only office product in the first phase of Pearl Square, built by development firm Gateway Jax. It will be an anchor for the $750 million development and bring approximately 100,000 square feet of office space and 25,000 square feet of retail to the approximately 2 million-square-foot neighborhood.
“With five buildings currently under construction, Pearl Square is moving at pace to redefine the city’s geographic heart,” Gateway Jax CEO Bryan Moll said in a statement. “655 Pearl represents the first opportunity for businesses to plant a flag within this $750 million ecosystem. We are delivering a world-class workspace that is physically integrated into a hospitality-led district, giving our tenants immediate, walkable access to new residences, public parks, over two dozen curated shops and retailers, daily amenities and signature restaurants.”
Construction is set to begin in 2027 and the building is estimated to be completed by 2028.
JLL Executive Managing Directors Michael Loftin and Jesse Shimp and Senior Associate Mack Keasler will lead the leasing efforts for the building.
“Jacksonville’s premium office market is tightening as demand continues to concentrate in well-located, high-quality buildings,” Loftin said in a statement. “With virtually no new office product delivered downtown in recent decades, developments like 655 Pearl respond directly to that gap, introducing thoughtfully designed, contemporary workspace that supports evolving tenant needs and the long-term vitality of the urban core. Companies are increasingly understanding that a great, amenity-rich office building inside a vibrant neighborhood is the most effective tool to attract and retain talent.”
The six-story building has been designed by Morris Adjmi Architects in collaboration with BDG Architects, with landscape design by Hoerr Schaudt. Floor plates will be flexible and range in size from 17,000 to 21,000 square feet. 655 Pearl St. will also have a dedicated 5,000-square-foot amenity suite for tenants, which will include a 1,250-square-foot terrace. The ground floor will have 25,000 square feet of space for a flagship restaurant.