New tallest buildings in Adelaide

[llessur]

A lot of the time discussions in the South Australia section of this forum relate very much to residential areas of Adelaide, but the city itself receives less attention. I have a little bit of an interest in architecture and urban development so I thought it might be interesting to those who aren't hugely familiar with Adelaide to know about some of the development work which has been re-shaping the city over the last few years. After remaining relatively unchanged for a lengthy period of time, the skyline has really started to grow over the last 5 to 10 years - with new apartment, office and hotel buildings taking shape.

At 132m, Westpac House (formerly the State Bank Building) has been Adelaide's tallest building since 1988 (one of only three buildings over the 100m mark in the city). However, two new contenders for the title are currently under construction and starting to be quite visible on the skyline. 

At 35 storeys high, the Adelaidean building on Frome Street will be 135m tall and house a mixture of residential apartments as well as a Crowne Plaza hotel. It's currently standing at around 25 storeys so there's another 10 or so to go.

(Image courtesy of the Sensational Adelaide development forum)

At 40 storeys high, the Realm apartment building will equal Westpac House's height of 132m. The building was designed by renowned architects Elenberg-Fraser and features a geometric arrangement of perforated gold screens for sun/wind protection and floorplates which change shape throughout the height of the building. It's starting to look pretty stunning

(Image courtesy of the Sensational Adelaide development forum)

Whilst not in contention for the new tallest building, there are also a few other 100m+ buildings which are either proposed or under construction. 

The recently-completed Kodo apartment building on Angas Street (103m):

(Image courtesy of the Sensational Adelaide development forum)

The 115m Luminesque building on Currie Street will house a mixture of apartments and Adelaide's first new international 5 star hotel (Sofitel) built in 30 years. It is currently under construction and due for completion in 2020:

There are also a couple of 100m+ student accommodation buildings in the pipeline - a 124m building designed by Woods Baggot approved for Twin Street:

And a 118m building approved for North Terrace, directly opposite the University of Adelaide campus:

All in all it's a very exciting time for the city skyline

Edited July 19, 2019 by llessur

[llessur]

Another tall building announcement this week - Hyatt Regency will be building a 114m five-star hotel on Pirie Street:

Meanwhile Realm and the Adelaidean continue to take shape:

(Picture courtesy of the Sensational Adelaide development forum)

(Picture courtesy of the Sensational Adelaide development forum)

Edited August 4, 2019 by llessur

[llessur]

Another one approved - a 132m (equal in height to the existing tallest building) hotel for King William Street:

[Skani]

So Adelaide is becoming a clone of thousands of anonymous glass and concrete wind tunnel cities across the globe...whoopy doo.     Glad I experienced it in the 1970s when it still had its own distinctive charm.

[llessur]

Great for the CBD's population though. What's point of a capital city if it empties out after 5pm? Plus, new building generally=economic activity which = jobs and growth (to nick a government soundbite) 

Edited August 8, 2019 by llessur

[Toots]

29 minutes ago, Skani said:

So Adelaide is becoming a clone of thousands of anonymous glass and concrete wind tunnel cities across the globe...whoopy doo.     Glad I experienced it in the 1970s when it still had its own distinctive charm.

Were you happy when the plans for the proposed 55 metre high hotel in Hobart's CBD were rejected by the council?  Here in Devonport the council is building a "living city".  The buildings are just ugly and apart from the library a total waste of money.  A new hotel is to be built in the middle of town overlooking the river.  A prefab monstrosity.  

 

 

[Skani]

4 hours ago, Toots said:

Were you happy when the plans for the proposed 55 metre high hotel in Hobart's CBD were rejected by the council?

The one just recently rejected?  Yes, very happy.  It was completely out of character with the old Georgian buildings beside it and tall enough to block sunlight from St. David's Park opposite, particularly in winter.  The site definitely needs redeveloping....but with something in a more "harmonious" style, both for the streetscape and for people.

[llessur]

Hobart's an interesting beast though - it's generally very low-rise, with lots of heritage shopfronts and has far more of a European town feel about it. I can see why a high rise (not just this 55m proposal but the much taller one proposed for near the waterfront) might not fit in as well.

Adelaide on the other hand already has countless 50m+ buildings, many of which have been around since the 60s and are looking pretty tired. Adding more tall buildings can only improve the skyline, as well as adding more A-grade office buildings which are desperately required if we are to continue attracting interstate and international companies here.

[llessur]

The Adelaidean and Realm are coming on nicely

(Image courtesy of the Sensational Adelaide development forum)

[llessur]

Progress shot from last week of Realm (foreground) and the Adelaidean.

(Image courtesy of the Sensational Adelaide discussion forum)

[llessur]

A little while since my last post but both the Adelaidean and Realm have now reached full height and are largely complete externally:

(Pictures courtesy of the Sensational Adelaide development forum)

The Adelaidean was subject to a increase in height during its construction and now sits at 138m, making it a clear 6m taller than the previous tallest building - Westpac House - as well as Realm. I would certainly argue however that Realm is the prettier of the two!

The 115m Luminesque building on Currie Street is slowly taking shape - it is the left hand of the two buildings under construction is this photo and will certainly make an impact on the skyline from this approach into the city:

[Curly]

The new casino extension is looking really good also overlooking the riverbank. 
 

The gold glass highlights the sun and looks amazing when the sun is setting. 

[llessur]

It looks good on cloudy days too

[VinyTapestry849]

I can't believe the Adelaidean increased in height, HOW AWESOME!

[VinyTapestry849]

It's the Dominator 1 development going ahead?

[VinyTapestry849]

80 Currie street development, about the size of the Adelaidean.

[VinyTapestry849]

Did anyone notice the Adelaidean has neon lights?? Hopefully they are maintained!

[VinyTapestry849]

Apparently the planning authority and the millionaire developer of the Festival Plaza Tower are still arguing over this,  hopefully they can come to an agreement soon to get it off the ground :)    

[VinyTapestry849]

Does ANYONE know when these two (AWESOME, city shaping) developments are starting, I'm really excited for them.

[llessur]

The second one is the new student accommodation building on the corner of North Terrace and Frome Road - that's already started, the piling's done and they're starting on the ground floor slab now. The first one is proposed for King William Street but that's about as far as it has got - as far as I know. The office that's currently on the site has a for lease sign up so they're obviously not planning construction imminently.

 

Edited April 8, 2020 by The Pom Queen
Removed link

[VinyTapestry849]

thanks bro

[VinyTapestry849]

Adelaide is starting to look bigger and more business like than ever before, but personally we need ALOT MORE office towers. We are over run with hotels and apartments, so if we don't build office complexes we don't attract business.

[VinyTapestry849]

75-79 King William Street has been officially announced as the Brand new Wyndham Grand Adelaide 5-Star Hotel right next to the Westpac building. 

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts announced Wyndham Grand Adelaide, a major new landmark that will become one of the tallest hotels in South Australia and the first Wyndham Grand hotel for the country when it opens in 2024. 

Wyndham Grand Adelaide will rise 120 meters from King William Street in Adelaide’s Central Business District, becoming a new icon for the city. The estimated AUD150 million skyscraper is being developed by Equinox Property and will comprise some 347 contemporary rooms and suites and an extensive array of facilities, elevating the concept of approachable luxury.

“The South Australian capital has been experiencing a surge of investment, with new infrastructure projects such as the expansion of Adelaide Airport, the revamp of the Adelaide Oval, and now, the creation of one of the city’s tallest hotels,” said Joon Aun Ooi, President, Asia Pacific, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts.

“We are excited to be part of this prestigious project. Wyndham Grand is known for its iconic locations, so I can think of no better way to introduce the brand to Australia.” 

Wyndham Grand Adelaide will offer a selection of refined rooms and suites featuring a modern interior concept with green walls, marble fixtures and plush furnishings all accented with bold splashes of color, as well as floor-to-ceiling windows that frame breathtaking views of Adelaide’s skyline and the surrounding area. 

Guests can expect a host of exceptional facilities, including an infinity pool with a sun deck and a bar offering panoramic city views, a day spa with sauna and treatment rooms, and a spacious fitness center. The five-star property will also offer a wide range of dining experiences with an upscale restaurant, a wine bar, a hills-facing sky bar with stylish alfresco seating, as well as a rooftop restaurant, which is expected to become one of the most desirable dining destinations in the city. 

Wyndham Grand Adelaide is set to become the first Wyndham Grand in Australia and the wider Australasia region. It will join an exclusive collection of nearly 50Wyndham Grand hotels and resorts worldwide. In Australia, the hotel will add to Wyndham’s rapidly expanding portfolio of brands consisting of almost 30 hotels and resorts, including locations in key cities such as Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Canberra and Darwin. 

Wyndham Grand Adelaide will be managed by Resort Management by Wyndham Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of Wyndham Destinations, which manages a portfolio of 54 properties across the Asia Pacific, including in Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Thailand, Indonesia and Japan.

“Our depth of hotel management experience, knowledge and capability make us the ideal partner for Wyndham Hotels & Resorts as it launches its upper-upscale Wyndham Grand brand in Australia,” said Warren Cullum, Senior Vice President, Operations at Wyndham Destinations Asia Pacific.

“This new hotel will represent the pinnacle of hospitality available in Adelaide and we are proud to have the opportunity to provide an incomparable experience to guests and showcase Adelaide to the world.”

“This is a proud moment for our company, as we announce this landmark development with Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, one of the world’s leading hospitality companies,” commented Tong Guo, on behalf of Equinox Property.

“Wyndham Grand is well-known across the world for its impressive hotels and the brand is the perfect fit for our new development. With its prime position and impressive stature, this hotel will become a new symbol of prosperity for the City of Adelaide, which has given us a place to call home the past 20 years. We are delighted that we can give back by showcasing such a significant building for the city and to all of South Australia.” 

Development of Wyndham Grand Adelaide is being managed by Guava Lime Property Solutions and a competitive operator selection program for the Wyndham Grand Adelaide hotel was coordinated through Savills Hotels on behalf of Equinox Property, with support from Commercial & Legal. The hotel’s architecture is being designed by Loucas Zahos Architects. 

All of Wyndham's hotels in Australia participate in Wyndham Rewards®, the world’s most generous hotel rewards program with more than 30,000 hotels, vacation club resorts and vacation rentals worldwide. 

 

[llessur]

Thought I'd add a bit of an update to this thread as there's been a few milestones reached with regards to new tall buildings in Adelaide's CBD.

Adelaide's tallest building the Adelaidean is now complete and its neighbour, the 118m student accommodation building on North Terrace, is taking shape and starting to look very nice:

The redevelopment of the Adelaide Central Market which includes a 124m tower has been approved and construction will commence later this year:

Not exactly a tall building at 65m but worth a mention is the new office building and shopping centre to be built on King William Street - this retains the 30s art deco facade of the Sands and McDougall building. Demolition has started now and construction will follow later this year.

Finally, the 117m Sofitel Hotel on Currie Street is close to completion and is looking fantastic:

 

[VinyTapestry849]