We prove that for every member X in the class of real or complex JB*-triples or preduals of JBW*-triples, the following assertions are equivalent: (1) X has the fixed point property. (2) X has the super fixed point property. (3) X has normal structure. (4) X has uniform normal structure. (5) The Banach space of X is reflexive. As a consequence, a real or complex C*-algebra or the predual of a real or complex W*-algebra having the fixed point property must be finite-dimensional. (C) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.