[COM] Adelaide Convention Centre - Stage 3 | $350m

[Alyx]

ADELAIDE'S Convention Centre will get a $394 million overhaul including construction of a new showroom to accommodate bigger events and conversion of the River Torrens banks into an entertainment strip, Labor has pledged.

Premier Mike Rann's has announcement includes the demolition of a building between the Intercontinental hotel and the main convention centre building.

He said the centre had become dated and needed an upgrade to win events like boat and car shows requiring large areas of floorspace.

"We need to increase the capacity of the Adelaide Convention Centre to compete with other states and prevent large-scale events being lost to interstate and overseas," he said.

"The industry already brings thousands of people here who spend money in our hotels, restaurants, shops and tours to our regions, supporting tourism operators and our economy more broadly."

The Labor development includes:

TWO-STAGE expansion of the centre to replace the plenary building with a 3500-seat venue and expanding the existing main building toward the Morphett St bridge.

UPGRADING the Riverbank to increase pedestrian numbers and enhance security.

WATER and light features in the Torrens.

Construction would create 2300 jobs and begin next year. The new facility would open in 2015.

Mr Rann denied the announcement was intended to win back voters wooed by the Liberals' plan to invigorate the Torrens precinct.

He dismissed the plans as a "Las Vegas by the Torrens", which was unrealistic and uncosted.

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/in-d ... 5840537731

Also, from the Youtube video:

A re-elected Rann Labor Government will expand the Adelaide Convention Centre and transform the southern banks of the River Torrens into a vibrant entertainment strip at a cost of $394 million.

The Riverbank Promenade redevelopment includes:

• a two-stage expansion of the Adelaide Convention Centre to the Morphett Street Bridge (over the rail lines), and replacing the original convention plenary building with a new 3500-seat meeting venue, increasing total floor space by nearly two thirds.

• significant upgrades and landscaping of the Riverbank Promenade and surrounding precinct to Morphett Street to increase pedestrian flows, enhance Adelaides attractiveness and increase safety and security in the area.

• works to integrate the redeveloped Convention Centre and precinct into North Terrace and the city

• a water and light feature on the River Torrens to provide a unique attraction for visitors to the area.

[Nort]

So what is there to draw you into the area 7 days a week?


Just like the Liberals plan, the answer is nothing

The bigger question is that given the nearby vicinity of Rundle Street and O'Connell Street is there any need for another major cafe strip that would draw in people 7 days a week? This isn't a plan intended to do that, it's an upgrade of the Convention Center and the surrounding landscape.

[Hooligan]

it's an upgrade of the Convention Center and the surrounding landscape.

So it will be deserted a vast majority of the time. Sounds fantastic.

[rogue]

So what is there to draw you into the area 7 days a week?

Just like the Liberals plan, the answer is nothing

Agreed.

[Hippodamus]

Things I would like to commend about the proposal:

- urban design upgrade of Morphett St Bridge Great which becomes tree lined, with riverside walk open and with cafe and restaurants
- replacing the original convention plenary building with a new 3500-seat meeting venue - open to waterfront and design of seating is appealling
- open another entrance to Railway Station building along riverfront
- pedestrian bridge linking both sides of the Torrens
- Dubai water features in the Torrens
- pedestrian frontage to newly redeveloped Adelaide Oval and stadium expansion (although should have more seating capacity from present proposed)

Things which I would like to criticize about the proposal:
- Design of Convention Centre (replication of the existing new addition)
- not convinced about achieving active street frontage, particularly along North Terrace, Riverfront and Morphett St - Mono-use of Convention Centre for the pedestrian is overwhelming and will be very bleak walking along if not treated with good urban design and active shop fronts
- grade seperated vehicular service / parking ramps (from Morphett St and in between Festival Centre / Railway Station / Convention Centre), divided pedestrian levels with limited stair/ramp access for Festival Centre plaza, including exposed at grade car parks along Nth Terrce under Convention Centre
- lack of apparent shading devices and tree's along waterfront pedestrian promenade
- huge expanses of open areas with blank walls and little or no pedestrian activation (i.e. Festival Centre plaza fronting new station entrance

Things which I believe require more attention:
- more focus on greater urban context (i.e. connectivity has been disregarded to new adjacent Hospital site and other side of Morphett St Bridge including the Festival Centre plaza which yet again has been totally ignored)
- looking at possibility of opening up large portions of the grounds at Government House along North Terrace, opposite Parliament Building, crn Nth Terrace and King William, opening up sections of the walls as openings allowing public penetration into the lush grounds through to the cultural / uni part of Nth Tce
- reinforcing more pedestrian access from North Terrace through to Riverbank (i.e. through the massive expanse of what will be the final Convention Centre build out)
- with respect to a previous post identifying need of making this area more of a 24/7 destination
- the entire precinct lacks a residential component. should investigate introducing medium - high density living within precinct and/or in areas adjacent to new hospital over railway lines with waterfront views and access
- tram extension to North Adelaide with stop at Adelaide Oval

this are my opinions from a planning / urban design perspective

[flavze]

So what is there to draw you into the area 7 days a week?


Just like the Liberals plan, the answer is nothing

why does it have to be populated 7 days a week?

[Nathan]

This to me seems better and more realistic than the Liberals plan. I've long thought about demolishing the older parts of the convention centre (in all their octagon glory), so kudos on that.

I too would like a bit more initiative put into the design of the extensions though. Simply replicating the main building would actually diminish from it. The smaller additional buildings should complement it, not continue the same glass wall with curved roof.

I'd also like to see some more on what they plan to do with Festival Plaza - which to me is the key area. If they can close off Station Rd, alongside the Railway Station - and convert the whole area into a desirable public area, that would be fantastic. Concentrate on the walkway along Station Rd, through the Festival Centre, and then into Elder Park and over the bridge. And then completely redo Festival Plaza as a far more useful public space, like the open spaces of (dare I say it) Federation Square. The main problem at the moment (aside from it's straight out ugliness and barren landscape feel) is the access. Having a pleasant, attractive and open pedestrian access from North Tce between the station and Old Parliament House would do wonders.

[Pikey]

How incredibly underwhelming. I fail to see how people, aside from those either attending a function at the convention centre, or working at the Casino would go out of their way to use the area. Sure prior to an AFL game, the place will be packed, but aside from the 22 days/nights (more plus finals) where attendance is guaranteed, what will attract the average Joe?

I'm surprised neither has thought of including residential development? Maybe the parklands mob would have a coronary if government funding went towards a private venture on "public land."

[JamesXander]

People, rememeber these plans are paid for by the partys. Labor and the Liberals.

Remember Labor has a HUGE warchest. The developers are on their side after all.


This video looks much more detailed, but thats because they had alot more money then the Libs. Also note that this is essentially the same plan as the LIberals. Except the Liberals had a plan for a new Casino. And that is something that really could bring people to the Torrens....if it were planned right.

[waz94]

Wow, a week before election day and another idea stolen from the other guys.

Do Labor actually have an original idea this election?

[cruel_world00]

This to me seems better and more realistic than the Liberals plan. I've long thought about demolishing the older parts of the convention centre (in all their octagon glory), so kudos on that.

I too would like a bit more initiative put into the design of the extensions though. Simply replicating the main building would actually diminish from it. The smaller additional buildings should complement it, not continue the same glass wall with curved roof.

I'd also like to see some more on what they plan to do with Festival Plaza - which to me is the key area. If they can close off Station Rd, alongside the Railway Station - and convert the whole area into a desirable public area, that would be fantastic. Concentrate on the walkway along Station Rd, through the Festival Centre, and then into Elder Park and over the bridge. And then completely redo Festival Plaza as a far more useful public space, like the open spaces of (dare I say it) Federation Square. The main problem at the moment (aside from it's straight out ugliness and barren landscape feel) is the access. Having a pleasant, attractive and open pedestrian access from North Tce between the station and Old Parliament House would do wonders.

I think it will be interesting to see how the Hughes Plaza redevelopment at The University of Adelaide goes. This area reminds me of Festival Plaza but to a smaller extent. If they can successfully upgrade this area to make it more user friendly, I hope someone takes note.

[mattblack]

So what is there to draw you into the area 7 days a week?


Just like the Liberals plan, the answer is nothing

A hospital, medical research facility that would have 1000's of workers and stadium redevelopment that would be active on weekends. If Elder park along with the fesival theatre plaza also had some attention there could be plenty of activity there.

[paul]

8 years and this is it? It smacks of the sort of mediocrity that too often defines Adelaide and irraties so many of us.

The railyards is the only logical site for a riverside precinct of even a modest scale.

[monotonehell]

While this proposal is a little underwhelming, it answers the question I had of the Lib's previous proposal -- every building in the plan has an established business purpose. The Lib's vision was just a load of purpose-unspecified architecture plonked where it looked good and almost zero economic justification. This vision has a reasonable business case behind it. A lot of people will call this vision mediocre or similar but the bottom line is the bottom line, there's no economic justification behind the other more grandiose ideas. If it can't pay for itself, it'll be an abandoned wasteland in six months.

So, underwhelming, yes but only slightly. It will open a lot of areas that are currently pedestrian-wise isolated. The link with the Oval is a good thing, and will probably see some continued use when there's no event on at the Oval (but only pedestrian, like the Uni footbridge). I doubt the pictured cafe`s and etc will see much business outside those times when there's major conventions or events on. Although I have been to the convention centre area a few times recently on other business and there's always some activity there. There's a surprising amount of conferences and the like going on that most people aren't aware of.

Some people have commented on using the same architecture as the existing Convention building as a negative. I actually think it's a good idea, in that it doesn't make the new building look like an afterthought.

[ynotsfables]

Some people have commented on using the same architecture as the existing Convention building as a negative. I actually think it's a good idea, in that it doesn't make the new building look like an afterthought.

I too think its a good idea, it will blend in well even with the Festival center complex, which i think will break the monotony of having all the same anyway.