U/C: Adelaide Convention Centre | $350m

[crawf]

Looks good, though I am really interested to see what's going to happen to the pedestrian walkway along the bridge. At the moment it's quite narrow and not very pedestrian friendly.

If the State Government want to attract people to this entrance aswell make the Riverbank more accessible, then they should widen the walkway and extend it towards Hindley Street which would see the closure of the Morphett Street road access point from North Terrace.

Or even turning Morphett Road into a 4x road between say War Memorial Drive and Hindley Street, and use those lanes to introduce a bikelane, wider pedestrian walkway and a potential bus stop. Controversy idea, but something has to be done before this expansion opens.

[Nort]

If it was just the convention centre being upgraded I would agree that a most consistent look would be best, but since the plan is to upgrade the entire riverbank area having one big uniform convention centre could have overshadowed everything else.

[SRW]

Ugh. Not a fan of the designs for these buildings, especially the western wing. Part of the reason why the previous upgrade was successful is because it is so open to the river; that great, sweeping expanse of glass invites you. The new western wing, by contrast, looks over-designed to the point of resembling a fortress. I would have liked to have seen the original design carried over to at least this western portion of the expanded edifice. Far from overshadowing everything, I think it would have presented a more impressive if not iconic building at the face of our skyline.

[Vee]

Thanks Ben for the renders.

Like SRW and AdelaideAlive, I'm not really a big fan of the design of the western section but I will wait and see if it looks better than first impressions. I like the appearance of the existing section overlooking the river and it looks great from the riverbank and across the river.

....and please please relocate those rowing sheds , so outdated and out of place with all these new and modern building designs,my opinion for what its worth lol

I actually like the rowing sheds on the riverbank as it preserves a link to the history and context (connected to the river) with contemporary recreational use. They may not be as handsome as some of the other rowing sheds, some of Edwardian design, in other parts of the river or as charming as Jolley’s Boathouse but they are part of the story of the river.
Great for a walking trail with interpretation of all the points of significance.

It is interesting to see the list of structures along the river and the numbers which had to be rebuilt after flood and fire.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Park_12
Pity the Dance Palais from the 1920s was not rebuilt but its demise is subject to rumour and innuendo!

I do see crawf's point about the pedestrian walkway along the bridge - widening and extension. Is it too late to rethink the external connections adjacent Morphett Street as crawf has suggested?

[Xaragmata]

The latest press release still refers to the new urban boulevard, with alternative main entry on the bridge as in the earlier renders, so all may not be lost.
Hard to see how vehicle drop-off could be achieved without an indent where the bridge footpath is now, and little point to a main entrance from the existing narrow bridge footpath ...

http://www.adelaidecc.com.au/about-us/m ... ticle=9200

Key features of the expanded Adelaide Convention Centre will include:

A new alternative main entry including pedestrian and vehicle drop off from Morphett Street Bridge;
A new urban boulevard (Montefiore Road) linking North Terrace to the Riverbank Promenade and the Adelaide Oval in the north;

[bm7500]

STEP one in Adelaide's revitalised Riverbank precinct opened as work hit full pace in the $350 million Adelaide Convention Centre redevelopment.

The $3.9 million Regattas Bistro and Bar and its upstairs Panorama Suite meetings and functions room were opened last night by Tourism Minister Gail Gago. The new development overlooks the southern bank of the River Torrens.

Ms Gago said the Regattas-Panorama development was "the first of many brilliant elements" of the State Government-funded Riverbank project.

Adelaide Convention Centre chief executive Alec Gilbert said the new facility's riverside location and glass facade provided "the best views in town" to see across to Adelaide Oval, upriver to Elder Park and downstream to the Torrens weir.

Accessed from the riverbank or North Tce, Regattas will allow city visitors and workers to have casual drinks and pub-style dinners at the convention centre for the first time but Regattas also will offer an a la carte menu and al fresco dining.

The Panorama Suite is the first of many new meetings and events spaces to be created in the Adelaide Convention Centre work over the coming five years.

It can house boardroom-style events of up to 44 people and banquet-style for up to 80.

The Riverbank project will include a footbridge across the River Torrens, expanding the convention centre west to the Morphett Street Bridge and then redeveloping the original 1980s buildings of the centre at its eastern end.

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au

[Ben]

Skycity announced their 1st half profits today along with some concept images. They stressed they are only in discussion stage and will not proceed if they can't get a better deal from the SA Government. Talk about blackmail.

Concept images:

[AdelaideAlive]

wow changed design from original concept which now im gathering means footbridge will def be located more to the left or right depends which side your looking and not between the festival shells,not sure which design i like better first or this one better.but then again maybe not,do i see swimming pools on top floor or is that just water feature

[AtD]

I wish I had a dollar for every new concept render for Riverbank.

[Ben]

Yes the announcement mentions a rooftop pool bar.

[Ben]

Wonder if they heard about it here first

SkyCity wants to redevelop Adelaide Casino - at a price

by: Business Reporter Cameron England

From: AdelaideNow February 15, 2012



The concept design for the redevelopment of the Adelaide Casino Source: AdelaideNow

SKYCITY wants to build a boutique hotel with a rooftop pool overlooking the River Torrens as part of the riverbank redevelopment.

The owner of the Adelaide Casino said it wants to build a "truly world class integrated entertainment facility" including a five star hotel, signature restaurants and bars, a spa and roof top pool lounge and international VIP gambling suites.

But the company has flagged again that the State Government will have to deliver concessions for the redevelopment to go ahead.

"We are working closely with the Casino Task Force regarding the future regulatory framework for the Adelaide Casino," the company said yesterday.

"The outcome of these discussions will allow us to determine whether to proceed or not with progressing our plans for the transformation of the Adelaide Casino.

"While we are excited about the outstanding growth opportunity this transformational project potentially represents for SkyCity, shareholders should be assured that this project will only proceed if we can be confident of achieving an acceptable return on the potential investment."

The company has been in negotiations with the State Government for the past few years on the conditions surrounding any potential development, which it has previously costed at $250 million.

The company has been pushing for changes to the regulations which govern the casino, arguing the 43.5 per cent tax it pays is the highest in the nation, and that restrictions on some types of games which can be played should be relaxed.

The casino has been performing well, with SkyCity annoncing yesterday that its half year before tax profit in Adelaide was 12.9 per cent higher at $19.2 million.

Revenue was up 6.9 per cent at $82.6 million.

The casino's poker machines raked in an extra nine per cent, or $33 million, in the six months to the end of December, and table games revenue increased more than 7 per cent to $41 million.

Other aspects of the riverbank redevelopment continue to progress, with a call for tenders to design the footbridge connecting Adelaide Oval and the southern side of the Torrens open until February 28.

Expressions of interest are also being sought for private sector involvement in the revitalisation of the Riverbank precinct - a $394 million project which includes the expansion of the convention centre.

This is in addition to the $535 million Adelaide Oval redevelopment.

Preliminary works have already started at the oval, with major construction work to start after the cricket season finishes.

[Vormund]

Skycity announced their 1st half profits today along with some concept images. They stressed they are only in discussion stage and will not proceed if they can't get a better deal from the SA Government. Talk about blackmail.

3rd one I've seen. There probably will 3 or more before anything happens.

On your second point, no it's not blackmail really. Adelaide pays 43.5% tax versus other states which are 22% or less. No note acceptors are allowed on pokies which is a hinderance to high dollar players. It's not blackmail, it's being able to compete on a level playing field with other Australian casinos. If the ROI isn't there, Skycity might as well divert the money to another site.

[crawf]

Most casinos around the nation are undergoing or planning major works. So if the State Government wants Adelaide to become this 'vibrant competitive' city then it needs to come to the table with Skycity or Adelaide Casino risks losing millions of dollars from people traveling to interstate casinos instead (eg Crown). Note acceptors should definitely be allowed, this type of technology is expected everywhere these days.

Either way, that hideous tacky signage next to the North Terrace entrance needs to disappear. Black tint scratch proof glass would look so much better.

[Howie]

Thanks for the headsup on the latest news Ben.

While i'm not disliking the new design, what happened to the evil opera house concept.. I kind of liked that more.

[AdelaideAlive]

[quote="Ben"]Skycity announced their 1st half profits today along with some concept images. They stressed they are only in discussion stage and will not proceed if they can't get a better deal from the SA Government. Talk about blackmail.

Concept images:



im gathering from this pic that the cinemas in the masterplan are not part of the casino redevelopment and are a seperate venture even though their located above the railway station/casino,on another note if they wnated to build ahotel above the casino development why didnt they go further and build a 40 storey building and really give people a view