Sensational-Adelaide.com

Council backs new city tower

From: The Advertiser January 24, 2011 9:59PM



How the tower incorporates the old building. Source: The Advertiser

THE original State Bank of South Australia building in Pirie St will form the facade of a 22-storey tower recommended for approval by the Development Assessment Panel.
A six-storey building would be built behind the facade and a 16-storey structure added on top. The 98m office building would be the fourth tallest building in Adelaide.

The ground floor of the $151 million structure will be used for retail and cafe space.

Because of the project's size, the DAP only has power to recommend approval. The final decision rests with the Development Assessment Commission.

Adelaide City councillors commended the design's integration of the heritage-listed State Bank building.

spiller wrote:Is there any info on potential tennants of this building? Or is it nowhere near that stage yet?

insert obligatory "wish it was taller".

Council planners 'undermine' heritage
Tom Dougherty
From: The Advertiser
January 27, 2011 12:01AM

EFFORTS to preserve heritage-listed buildings are being "undermined" by city council planners.

Councillor Sandy Wilkinson voiced his concerns at a Development Assessment Panel meeting this week.

The meeting recommended the approval of a development at 51 Pirie St, the original State Bank of South Australia building. The facade is heritage-listed.

Mr Wilkinson said the development guidelines that call for an 8m setback from the road for all new developments in the area are not "wishy-washy" but clear-cut.

"This decision is denigrating the development plan. I am most disappointed that it has been recommended," he said. He said preservation efforts were being undermined by the council's planning department.

Lord Mayor Stephen Yarwood supported the $151 million development, saying that the applicant needed to be rewarded for the proposal. The DAP's heritage consultants did not see an issue with the design of the 97m office block and supported the development proposal.

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Mr Wilkinson was concerned the decision may be used to approve future developments that do not meet all guidelines set by the DAP.

"It will create a terrible precedent for other heritage-listed buildings, and other buildings in the future."

The office tower integrates the facade from the original State Bank building into its design.

DAP member Sybella Blencowe also supported the project, saying "the design is a unique solution for the site".

Mr Wilkinson stressed that he was not against the development, saying that the design has some "fantastic" elements to it.

"However, it will completely dominate the (State Bank of South Australia) building and will create a canyon-like effect down Pirie St.

"It will ruin this building and the streetscape," he said.

Isiskii wrote:I think Sandy Wilkinson needs some duct tape around his mouth.

rev wrote:It doesn't seem that it really incorporates the existing building, more so it's just (planned to be) built around it.

Isiskii wrote:If I have to make one small critique of the building's design, is that I believe the facade on the building's northern elevation needs to be flipped vertically - so that the thinner portion stands above the high pdoium/atrium thingy, and the wider section above the heritage facade. I think it would help accentuate the vertical illusion of the building.