Adelaide's CBD has 10 skyscrapers on the books
Adelaide CBD’s reputation as a large country town looks set to be rewritten over the next few years, with at least 10 skyscrapers of more than 20 levels mooted, approved, or under construction.
Within the wave of proposals is the tower likely to seize the title of the city’s tallest skyscraper from Westpac House, which has soared 31 storeys at 91 King William Street since 1988.
The building boom is supply-led with most developers likely to start projects once they achieve a significant level of apartment pre-sales, or in the case of the offices, secure a tenant pre-commitment.
Construction of one upcoming office was only confirmed late last last year when the state government committed to lease half of it for the Attorney General office. Another building, a 32-storey hotel granted permission in 2015, is due to start construction in 2017 after recently finding an occupant (the Sofitel).
Artist’s impression of the Realm Adelaide tower above Rundle Mall, which has been approved.
Unlike other major metropolitan cities such as Melbourne, where CBD living is a relatively new concept, Adelaide’s CBD benefits from the planning foresight of Colonel William Light, who encouraged residential and commercial occupants to share the CBD.
However, according to CBRE associate director William Brown, development in Adelaide is challenged because the city does not record the large population surges like capitals on the eastern seaboard.
In recent times, the metropolitan population in cities like Sydney and Melbourne has increased on a net basis by some 100,000 per year. This is almost 10 per cent of the total number (about 1.3 million) who call the greater Adelaide region home.
South Australia’s thriving tourism sector – reportedly worth in excess of $6 billion – is one of the state’s key economic drivers, according to Tourism Minister Leon Bignall. It is one of the big reasons for the increase in developer interest, and has created 4000 jobs over the past two years.
A continued rise in the number of international students moving to Adelaide could see a couple of new towers sprout in the city, which also offers sophisticated retail amenity.
According to the City of Adelaide council, about 22,700 people called the Adelaide CBD home in 2014. This is an increase on a 1980s low of 13,000 dwellers – but some way from 1915, when the CBD population peaked at 43,000.
In the city’s biggest new planning development, the state government approved the 40-level Realm Adelaide tower, which will replace the Renaissance Arcade in Austin Street and, when complete, offer views over North Terrace parkland and Rundle Mall, the city’s main retail thoroughfare.
The distinctive geometric and part-gold coloured tower, to offer about 300 flats and high-end resident-only amenities such as a rooftop spa and wellness facility, is proposed by private developer Eclipse Capital, which almost two years ago was spruiking a potential 29-level, 272 unit complex for the block.
Following a pre-sale marketing campaign, the developer expects construction of the taller project to start in mid-2017 and take three years.
South Australian planning authorities have also approved a 36-storey mixed use project to replace a 4163-square-metre site at 11-27 Frome Street, near the city’s north-east tip.
Part of developer Kyren Group’s Frome Central project, the prominent tower will be configured with apartments and hotel suites.
An artist’s impression of the 36-level tower Kyren Group is planning for 11-27 Frome Street, Adelaide.
Kyren Group’s application also sought to construct a 21-level, 268-bed student accommodation tower on part of the site fronting Synagogue Place.
Both the Eclipse Capital and Kyren Group developments would pip the 28-level Vue on King William complex, which was promoted as “Adelaide’s tallest residential building” when it opened in mid-2016.
At 411-427 King William Street, the 85-metre statuesque Vue building, a joint venture between Starfish Developments and Asian Pacific Group, is dwarfed only by Adelaide’s current tallest building, the 132-metre Westpac House.
Relatively shorter towers have also been earmarked in the Adelaide CBD recently including a 19-level building atop the historic G&R Wills & Co building at 203-206 North Terrace, and a 21-level, 505-room student accommodation building at 228-231 North Terrace.
Opposite the Bohem (a 17-level building under construction), the Adelaide CBD’s first eco-friendly resort, Hotel Iparrityi, has been permitted to replace historic buildings on 174-180 Wright Street, across the road from Whitmore Square.
The 2534-square-metre parcel proposed to make way for the distinctive eight-level project was recently offered for sale through agents CBRE.
