A 38-storey tower has received approval for development in Adelaide's Festival Plaza, in what will stand as the tallest commercial building in Adelaide and the tallest tower in the plaza.
The proposal, developed by Walker Corporation with architecture firm Johnson Pilton Walker, has undergone multiple revisions following receiving feedback from the Design Review Panel and the Office for Design and Architecture SA. Initially envisioned as a three-storey retail centre, the proposal was later abandoned after Walker indicated that a 38-storey tower would deliver a better heritage outcome. Since then, the tower has been further updated, with changes to the facade and a stronger emphasis on the plaza's role as a community hub.
The approved proposal includes nearly 50,000 square metres of floor space, a rooftop bar and restaurant, and thirty levels dedicated to commercial offices. At its base, the tower design features a podium with a raised outdoor space, lower-floor restaurants, cafes and bars, and access to end-of-trip facilities and parking within the multi-storey basement.
According to a communique published by the South Australian government on 12 June, the building "will become the largest all-electric commercial building in Adelaide, with the largest solar array of any commercial building in the city and will be carbon neutral by 2028."
Minister for Housing and Urban Development Nick Champion stated that the tower will "set a new benchmark for sustainable, world-class development in Adelaide."
The approval comes after a planning code amendment, allowing new towers in Festival Plaza to reach up to 40 storeys, was approved. A total of 87 submissions were received during the consultation period for this amendment, with the majority - 62 respondents - unsupportive of the change. Elsewhere in the submissions, 16 were supportive, five were supportive with concerns, three were impartial and one didn't specify whether it was for or against.
"This project is the result of careful collaboration with the community, expert design panels and heritage advisors. I thank the State Commission Assessment Panel for their thoughtful consideration and the important role they play in the planning process," Champion said.
"The refined plans ensure that we preserve the visual integrity and heritage of Parliament House while delivering a vibrant, activated public space that all South Australians can enjoy."
