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

[SRW]

Hideous. TBH the whole precinct looks like a dogs breakfast. Both the current building and the eastern extension are outstanding pieces of architecture but they don't gel well together IMO.

I have to agree about it appearing like a dogs' breakfast, although I wouldn't call any of it outstanding architecture. I would have preferred if they went with the initial idea of the Morphett St extension being a replica of the existing centre; at least then it would have had some legibility from the riverfront as one edifice/institution.

[russo92]

I think from a consistency point of view they should have stuck to this design but maybe spruced it up a bit. Keep with the flow of the original building.

[Xaragmata]

Pics from last week

[Shahkar]

Sorry for the terrible quality..

[bm7500]

In a word, FUGLY.

Adelaide Convention Centre gets new look
Engineering and budget constraints have forced a redesign of the second stage of the Adelaide Convention Centre expansion.

While work forges ahead on Stage One by the Morphett St Bridge, chief executive Alec Gilbert says attention has turned to refining the design of Stage Two, to be built over the site of the original 1980s centre.

The landmark curved, glass-fronted building will remain in-between.

Previous artist impressions of Stage Two showed an angular building, designed to reflect crystals found in the Flinders Ranges, with a sharp northern point leaning over Elder Park.

The latest design, for which external materials and colours are yet to be chosen, has a flatter frontage that does not reach as far forward toward the River Torrens.
Adelaide Convention Centre

Artist impressions of the Adelaide Convention Centre redevelopment as of April 2013. Stage Two is on the left. Picture: Adelaide Convention Centre.

Mr Gilbert said the original concept would have required "a fortune" to be spent on foundations and might have required unsightly external supports encroaching on the riverbank.

He said the revision was "still very much the crystal" and "still in a sharp-edged format leaning over the (riverfront) promenade", and would be part of the most flexible convention space in the world when completed in 2017.

Inside, much of the Stage Two design has been flipped around 180 degrees.

This is so its innovative internal workings, allowing the building to be configured in multiple ways, can be adequately supported over the railyards without breaking the expansion project's $350 million budget.

On its Facebook page the centre has posted: "The design has evolved over time to ensure we stay within budget.

"The integrity of the original concept must be respected as much as possible, but many cost variables go into a complex, long-term project such as this."

The building's raked auditorium, including two cylinders at the rear that can be rotated to create two intimate 300-seat theatres, will now face south instead of north.

A large "pre-function" area will allow convention delegates to mingle while taking in river views, while the main tiers of auditorium seating will be hoisted up to create an enormous function space.

"The outcome I think we're going to get is incredible," Mr Gilbert said.

"We're the only convention centre in the world that's put all these seating systems in one place."

The first stage, with similarly flexible seating arrangements and a ballroom overlooking the Torrens, will be finished by the end of next year.

Pictures here: http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/sout ... 6615766301

[monotonehell]

So the mystery render was correct.

[crawf]

Just axe the second stage already, or at least wait until the Government has more $$.

Horrible

[Nathan]

Looking at the closer render, I'm going to buck the trend and say I like it. It'll be highly dependant on the quality of the finishes, of course.
That said, I do echo earlier sentiments that the three ACC buildings don't exactly gel together. Perhaps the problem is that the two new stages are flanking the current building. If this new Stage 2 design was instead sighted opposite Stage 1 on the other side of the Morphett St bridge, for instance, I think the mix would be much less jarring. It would also play off nicely from SAHMRI, and they could then use the existing site (plus a demolished Riverside Centre) to create a connecting plaza from North Tce to the riverbank. One can dream.

The render also shows the existing riverfront, so I hope that the connection between the ACC and the riverside is addressed.

[Ben]

I like all 3 buildings individually but together they form a monstrosity.

[Shahkar]

Looking at the closer render, I'm going to buck the trend and say I like it. It'll be highly dependant on the quality of the finishes, of course.

+1. I think it fits in a little better than the older one. It stood out a bit too much.

[crawf]

I like all 3 buildings individually but together they form a monstrosity.

+1

[Matt]

I really hate it.

The brown/orange is hideous, the form is hideous, the scale is hideous.

Looks like it will completely dominate the landscape.

The previous design was elegant and the green glass was appropriate for the prominence of the spot... it's smack bang in the middle of the postcard shot.

This just looks so heavy.

[Dvious]

As mentioned all three together dont work.

But the new design is actually quite nice. I do like it.

[Shahkar]

I really hate it.

The brown/orange is hideous, the form is hideous, the scale is hideous.

Looks like it will completely dominate the landscape.

The previous design was elegant and the green glass was appropriate for the prominence of the spot... it's smack bang in the middle of the postcard shot.

This just looks so heavy.

The article says that external materials and colours are yet to be chosen.

[Matt]

Spotted that, but can't imagine they'd opt to use those colours for an artists impression if they were considering something markedly different.

Colour aside, point stands that it looks heavy and clunky.