[SWP] Festival Plaza Tower 2 | 160m | 38 Levels | Office

[notmichaeljfox]

[Pikey]

Looks like a new design has been announced, with a height increase to 160m

Designs revealed for Adelaide's first skyscraper at Festival ...

https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/subscrib ... -1-NOSCORE

The article is paywalled, but it's also the lead story on morning news broadcasts too this morning.

[Jaymz]

Here's the article from today's online version of The Advertiser......

Designs revealed for Adelaide’s first skyscraper at Festival Plaza
Designs have been revealed for a 160m-high second tower at Festival Plaza that would define the city’s skyline.

Paul Starick
Editor At Large
March 21, 2025 - 5:00AM

Latest designs can be revealed for Adelaide’s first skyscraper, the 160m second tower at Festival Plaza, hailed by the Premier as “an iconic building that will define Adelaide’s skyline”.

A development application will be lodged within days for the 38-storey tower, north of Parliament House, with a design featuring a diamond-shaped facade.

The building would become Adelaide’s first skyscraper – typically defined as a tower at least 150m in height – when expected to be complete in 2027.

Walker Corporation, which developed an adjacent tower with Flinders University as an anchor tenant, is in talks about the second tower’s tenants and expects to make announcements soon.

The tower would span almost 50,000 sqm over 38 levels, including 30 levels of office space. It is expected to generate more than 1000 construction jobs, then accommodate about 5000 office workers and another 100 retail workers in lower-floor restaurants, cafes and bars.

A new laneway would run along Parliament House’s northern side and include hospitality and retail outlets.

Premier Peter Malinauskas praised the development as “a linchpin of Festival Plaza”, arguing it would attract more than $1bn in annual economic activity to the area.

“Our state’s economy is growing, and our city is growing up. This will be an iconic building that will define Adelaide’s skyline,” he said.

“We want and need more workers in our city and this sends a clear message that SA is open for business and investment.”

Walker Corporation chief executive officer David Gallant said the “milestone lodgement” of the development application was “the final piece in the transformation of Adelaide’s premier commercial and entertainment precinct”.

“The building will set a new benchmark for sustainable commercial development in South Australia. Its world-class, diamond-shaped facade 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,” he said.

Mr Gallant said an extensive 18-month pre-lodgement process had “ensured that the tower aligns with Adelaide’s planning objectives and architectural aspirations”.

Walker will lodge a development application with the independent State Commission Assessment Panel, which is expected to make a decision within months.

[ChillyPhilly]

Is the form of this building getting watered down already?

[ml69]

That is stunning - big improvement!!! Love it!
Truly an iconic design now. Love the rooftop restaurant and bar.

Will be so exciting to see this one go up together with Keystone tower, both due for completion in 2027.

Let’s Go!!

[Will]

Whilst the increase in height is welcome, to me the new design is disappointing. It’s now become another flat roofed box.

[Matt]

Has this building had three designs in three months?

Disappointed at yet another box.

[Nort]

This will have a pretty massive impact on the view when flying into Adelaide.

Here's hoping the Masons tower starts soon, despite the head start on foundation works it would be amusing if this never becomes Adelaide's tallest.

[Nathan]

Previous render with the angled roof line was much better. This kind of skyline-defining building needs a distinctive silhouette, not just more boxes.

[Pikey]

Looking at the left hand edge of the tower, the line is articulated, suggesting the diamond pattern is repeated on the Eastern side.

Whilst the loss of curves and sculptural podium is disappointing (the setback right hand side of the tower does look to have a rounded corner at least), the diamond facade could be quite stunning, and somewhat unique in Australia.

I like what I see.

[Prodical]

The design looks pretty special and if the external face diamond feature reflect light at different times and angles will be a great skyline defining building.

I was so disappointed when the height was 149 meters but now am really excited about the new tallest. And I will be an early customer to the rooftop bar!

Hopefully a crane somewhere around June - Built are very professional and fast - really looking forward to this one.

[rhino]

Previous render with the angled roof line was much better. This kind of skyline-defining building needs a distinctive silhouette, not just more boxes.

/\/\ This /\/\

[SRW]

Bait and switch.

I'm not singing the praises of prior design, but as Nathan said, a defining building needs a defining silhouette—not another box.

Not to jump to conclusions from the limited information in this article but I note two of the supposed selling points for this second tower are now missing/unmentioned:

• the view to the Parliament House balcony now appears more constrained than open
• the public space reserved on lower levels curiously no longer mentioned as a feature

[A-Town]

Mali posted a short video of the updated design in the comments section of this Facebook post. Looks quite stunning in my opinion.

https://www.facebook.com/share/1DYSpk9H ... tid=oFDknk

[VinyTapestry849]

don’t care what it looks like.

At least it’s taller now!! LFG