A rendering of the proposed building, which is under construction at 2133 2nd Avenue South | TRB Development

A new three-story office building is under construction in the Warehouse Arts District, marking the first ground-up office project in the neighborhood since the city approved the Target Employment Center (TEC) zoning overlay in 2024.

The 25,000-square-foot building rising at 2133 2nd Avenue South, across from 3 Daughters Brewing, will become the new home of St. Pete–based Neptune Flood, along with several other ventures led by local entrepreneur and investor Trevor Burgess.

Trevor Burgess, Chairman and CEO of Neptune Flood | nyse

Burgess is a familiar name in St. Petersburg’s business community. He is the Chairman and CEO of Neptune Flood, the nation’s largest private flood insurance provider, and previously served as CEO of C1 Bank.

Over the past decade, he has played a visible role in the city’s economic growth, backing local projects in finance, real estate, technology, and even professional sports.

Burgess and his husband, Gary Hess, are also active philanthropists, supporting organizations such as the Dali Museum, Equality Florida, Metro Wellness, St. Pete Free Clinic, and Tampa Bay Watch, among several others.

Neptune Flood, which recently completed a $400 million initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange, has outgrown its current headquarters building at 400 6th Street South in downtown St. Pete.

Rather than purchase or renovate an existing structure, Burgess opted to construct a new office building designed to bring all of his companies under one roof.

In addition to Neptune Flood, the building will house Burgess’ family office, a warehouse for TRB Development, his real estate development company, offices for the Florida Smash, the Major League Pickleball team he has ownership in, along with his documentary film producing business, Bird Street Productions.

“Our new headquarters is at the intersection of the Grand Central District, the Deuces, and the Warehouse Arts District,” Burgess said to St. Pete Rising. “My vision was to build a building that could serve all of my passions in one place, another intersection — from business, to filmmaking, to philanthropy, to health and wellness.”

Architecturally, the building reflects a contemporary industrial style inspired by university auditoriums and gymnasiums.

South Facade - Elevation

North Facade - Elevation

The exterior features dark masonry, tall arched windows, and clean lines that echo the district’s warehouse buildings while giving them a modern update. The ground floor includes a double-height space with expansive windows and a mezzanine deck.

Inside, the office will include Class A finishes and a range of health and wellness amenities, such as a pickleball court, a two-story gym, a sauna, and a yoga studio. The building will feature a mix of private offices, conference rooms, and open seating areas. It will also feature several terraces.

The project is also being designed with a strong focus on energy efficiency and sustainability.

The site is located on 2nd Avenue South and was purchased in 2021 for $1.4 million | St. Pete Rising

Outside, the site will offer electric vehicle charging stations and short-term bike parking, and the structure itself is engineered to withstand a Category 5 hurricane — allowing Neptune to remain operational during major storms. The building will be equipped with both solar and one of the largest generators in Pinellas County.

“We have designed this building to be able to withstand some incredibly harsh weather in order to enable Neptune to operate during most hurricanes. It’s also a building that incorporates the latest science on healthy buildings, making sure that things like air quality are prioritized,” Burgess added.

The building is the first new development to take advantage of the TEC Local Overlay, a zoning change aimed at encouraging job growth, small-scale fabrication, and commercial activity around the SunRunner Bus Rapid Transit station at 22nd Street.

The overlay is intended to bring a broader mix of uses into an area long known for industrial and arts-related spaces, as long as certain design and performance standards are met.

The building’s design is being led by Rob Bowen Design and T2THES, with architecture by Luttrell Architecture and Loupin Construction serving as the general contractor.

Construction is underway and is expected to be completed within the next 12 to 18 months.

Editor’s note: St. Pete Rising is co-owned by Anthony Close, who is employed by Neptune Flood.