An eye-catching 38-storey tower proposed for Festival Plaza is set to become Adelaide’s tallest building – and the city’s first official skyscraper.
A development application is expected to be lodged for the unique building – which will come in at 160m high and is expected to be finished in 2027 – in coming days.
A major drawcard of the new building will be a rooftop bar and restaurant, taking in panoramic views of the Riverbank, Adelaide Oval and the Adelaide Hills.
The building will be the largest commercial tower in Adelaide, spanning almost 50,000sq m over 38 levels.
It is set to feature 30 levels of office space, a podium overlooking Festival Plaza, and access to secure parking across several levels in the basement.
The new tower replaces the original proposal which would have seen a three-storey retail building on the plaza, completely obscuring views of Parliament’s heritage façade and balcony.
Once complete, the development is expected to accommodate up to 5000 office workers and another 100 retail workers in its lower floor restaurants, cafes and bars, generating more than $1 billion in economic activity for the area annually.
A raised outdoor space will be created at the base of the building, providing a unique and accessible public space with unparalleled views over the reinvigorated Festival Plaza.
The tower will be one of the most sustainable office buildings in Australia and will be Adelaide’s largest all-electric commercial building, with the largest solar array on a commercial building in the city.
Early preparatory works have already commenced at the site, with the new development by Walker Corporation to be constructed by Built, the major construction partner for the neighbouring 29-storey Festival Tower.
It’s estimated that 1300 construction and associated jobs will be created over the course of the build.
The Festival Plaza Code Amendment, approved in January, provided clear building height and design guidance to ensure the site is maximised and Festival Plaza remains a world-class hub for the arts, culture, tourism and entertainment.
Changes made as a result of the Code Amendment specified a minimum setback of nine metres from Parliament House's northern façade to preserve its visual integrity, heritage value and to preserve view lines to Parliament House.
Walker Corporation CEO David Gallant said the company was, "proud to announce this milestone lodgement of our Development Application for the second tower at Festival Plaza, the final piece in the transformation of Adelaide’s premier commercial and entertainment precinct".
"This achievement is the result of many months of dedicated work by our expert consultant team, refining the design to deliver an iconic addition to the city’s skyline.
"The building will set a new benchmark for sustainable commercial development in South Australia.
"Its world-class diamond-shaped façade will create a striking visual identity, while a signature rooftop bar and restaurant will offer unparalleled views of the Riverbank, Adelaide Oval, and the Adelaide Hills."
Walker is currently in discussions with a number of tenants looking to pre-commitment to the building’s commercial floors.
