[COM] Festival Plaza Tower 1 | 115m | 27 Levels | Office

[Patrick_27]

Article in yesterdays paper saying Santos are looking to move here and are looking at naming rights, but it said only 3 levels as they are downsizing.

Far out... It wasn't long ago that they downsized into their Flinders Street site...

[CamCog]

Does anyone know if the building got approved/disapproved on Thursday?

[Nathan]

Does anyone know if the building got approved/disapproved on Thursday?

Yes.

http://www.premier.sa.gov.au/index.php/ ... ival-plaza

[CamCog]

Yes.

Thanks!

[Will]

From the Urban Developer:

$500 Million Tower Approved For Adelaide Festival Plaza Redevelopment

14th November 2016 | Category: Architecture, Commercial, Companies, Construction, Government, New Developments, News, SA, Town Planning | Staff Writer


The Walker Corporation’s $500 million private commercial and retail development at the Adelaide Festival Plaza has been approved by the Development Assessment Commission (DAC).

The DAC concluded that the development would bring a range of uses including retail and commercial, which would extensively activate the space during the daytime and the evening, and help to revitalise and rejuvenate the plaza as a desirable place to visit.
The 27-storey office tower will involve the demolition of the existing plaza and the car park, but once completed will include up to three levels of retail development and five levels of parking.
“The Walker Corporation’s development will be a key feature of the transformation, which also includes a $90m refurbishment of the Adelaide Festival Centre, a new entry to Adelaide Railway Station, a new plaza and northern promenade,” Minister for Housing and Urban Development Stephen Mullighan said.
The state government is contributing $180 million towards the Adelaide Festival Centre and Festival Plaza redevelopment with a $40 million contribution from Walker Corporation.
According to the Australian Financial Review, Lang Walker said the project, expected to start in 2017, would become a major drawcard for Adelaide and attract national and international businesses.
Walker Corporation will start a pre-leasing program for the office tower, which according to the group will include “continuing discussions with a number of major South Australian tenants”.
The project involves demolishing a 300-bay car park, making way for the underground car park, as well as replacing  existing surface parking in the adjoining parklands.
The DAC approval does not include the public realm, which is subject to a separate application by DPTI approved under the crown development application process.
The precinct will link Adelaide’s premier Riverbank attractions such as the Adelaide Oval, the Adelaide Festival Centre and the Adelaide Casino.

[I Follow PAFC]

From Tuesday 6 December 2016 the northern (riverside) doors of the Adelaide Railway Station will be closed to support the redevelopment of the Festival Plaza.

For more information and maps visit www.theadelaideriverbank.com.au

https://www.facebook.com/adelaideriverb ... 03955219:0

[Vee]

I saw part of the alternative pathway (to traversing through the Railway Station) to provide access to the Riverbank and the Footbridge as it was being installed, while going to the recent test match at AO.

It will certainly add congestion at this point when fans/patrons are coming back from AO events, including the footy, the ODI and major concerts etc. The 'footy express' free buses (also in action during big events) help to promote public transport and draw some fans away from the footbridge towards KWS.

This Adelaide Festival Centre map provides a quick overview of access to the Riverbank precinct and the footbridge during this construction period.
https://www.adelaidefestivalcentre.com. ... ng-map.pdf

Re 'I love PAFC''s comment re a western Stand exit from AO to facilitate movement in the direction of the Morphett St Bridge ... this has been on my mind as an issue, especially during any emergency at AO. Footy, cricket, concerts - anyone who has attended a big event will know the crush for Western Stand fans leaving at the end. Solution?

If the Memorial Drive Tennis courts, Next Gen gym area is redeveloped, this needs to be in the mix.

[rev]

Still not sold on this tower.
I think it'd be better if they built some sort of museum or arts facility in place of festival plaza.
And turn the riverside(where all the grass is/the rotunda and across to pinkies flat) into the "public plaza" gathering area.
But wait...wasn't Victoria Square meant to be the new "place'...? Or have they decided since it's only half finished and probably will always be half finished, to move on to the next location and hope they finish something..

[monotonehell]

Still not sold on this tower.
I think it'd be better if they built some sort of museum or arts facility in place of festival plaza.
And turn the riverside(where all the grass is/the rotunda and across to pinkies flat) into the "public plaza" gathering area.
But wait...wasn't Victoria Square meant to be the new "place'...? Or have they decided since it's only half finished and probably will always be half finished, to move on to the next location and hope they finish something..

To be fair the half of Vic Square that is finished is being used a lot, both for events and generally during workday lunchtime. And the previous council have been replaced with the new regime elected on the "stop everything and dig up the bike lanes!" platform.

[Nathan]

Still not sold on this tower.
I think it'd be better if they built some sort of museum or arts facility in place of festival plaza.
And turn the riverside(where all the grass is/the rotunda and across to pinkies flat) into the "public plaza" gathering area.
But wait...wasn't Victoria Square meant to be the new "place'...? Or have they decided since it's only half finished and probably will always be half finished, to move on to the next location and hope they finish something..

To be fair the half of Vic Square that is finished is being used a lot, both for events and generally during workday lunchtime. And the previous council have been replaced with the new regime elected on the "stop everything and dig up the bike lanes!" platform.

To add also, Vic Square was/is a council project, Festival Plaza a state government project. So it's not "they" that have moved on to a different project.

[Brucetiki]

I saw part of the alternative pathway (to traversing through the Railway Station)
Re 'I love PAFC''s comment re a western Stand exit from AO to facilitate movement in the direction of the Morphett St Bridge ... this has been on my mind as an issue, especially during any emergency at AO. Footy, cricket, concerts - anyone who has attended a big event will know the crush for Western Stand fans leaving at the end. Solution?.

There are access gates on the western side of the ground, which would be opened up in the event of an emergency one would think.

This gate could also be an alternative exit point during the Riverbank Bridge closure. I believe this gate is used for concerts when the southern gate is closed due to it being a backstage area.

[crawf]

There is definitely more people / activities happening in the square since the revamp. I work nearby so I often see people going there relaxing during the day. This will only increase once the new GPO development, Echelon, Kodo etc are complete.

What is hindering Victoria Square is constant whinging from a select number of brick and mortar businesses. Thanks to them, we will now see the highly successful Croquet Club banished to the other side of the riverbank next year. A backward move that could potentially drive the event interstate permanently in the long term. Bravo ACC.

I saw part of the alternative pathway (to traversing through the Railway Station) to provide access to the Riverbank and the Footbridge as it was being installed, while going to the recent test match at AO.

It will certainly add congestion at this point when fans/patrons are coming back from AO events, including the footy, the ODI and major concerts etc. The 'footy express' free buses (also in action during big events) help to promote public transport and draw some fans away from the footbridge towards KWS.

This Adelaide Festival Centre map provides a quick overview of access to the Riverbank precinct and the footbridge during this construction period.
https://www.adelaidefestivalcentre.com. ... ng-map.pdf

Re 'I love PAFC''s comment re a western Stand exit from AO to facilitate movement in the direction of the Morphett St Bridge ... this has been on my mind as an issue, especially during any emergency at AO. Footy, cricket, concerts - anyone who has attended a big event will know the crush for Western Stand fans leaving at the end. Solution?

If the Memorial Drive Tennis courts, Next Gen gym area is redeveloped, this needs to be in the mix.

I made the mistake by reading the Adelaide Now comments, urgh. There is comments being thrown around that the footbridge is closing and the usual Government bashing by the same individuals. It's very well stated on the map that the footbridge will be remaining open, however you will have to take a slight detour to the bridge whilst access is vastly improved. Alternatively there is the King William or Morphett Street bridges....seriously not a big deal. Short term pain for long term gain.

[rev]

Still not sold on this tower.
I think it'd be better if they built some sort of museum or arts facility in place of festival plaza.
And turn the riverside(where all the grass is/the rotunda and across to pinkies flat) into the "public plaza" gathering area.
But wait...wasn't Victoria Square meant to be the new "place'...? Or have they decided since it's only half finished and probably will always be half finished, to move on to the next location and hope they finish something..

To be fair the half of Vic Square that is finished is being used a lot, both for events and generally during workday lunchtime. And the previous council have been replaced with the new regime elected on the "stop everything and dig up the bike lanes!" platform.

To add also, Vic Square was/is a council project, Festival Plaza a state government project. So it's not "they" that have moved on to a different project.

And the state government funding for Vic Square...?
Wasn't the last council asking for state funding or more of it to finish the project?
Why didn't the previous council sign contracts for the second stage of the project? Did they intend to go on with it, or was it contingent on funding from the state, so no real commitment to it? Easy to blame the new council(and rightly so).

[Nathan]

And the state government funding for Vic Square...?
Wasn't the last council asking for state funding or more of it to finish the project?
Why didn't the previous council sign contracts for the second stage of the project? Did they intend to go on with it, or was it contingent on funding from the state, so no real commitment to it? Easy to blame the new council(and rightly so).

There has been no state government funding for Vic Square. Stage One was entirely funded by council.

After the masterplan was developed, council tried to get contributions from both the state and federal governments. After being knocked back by both, it was decided to proceed with stage one in order to finally get some movement after decades of failed attempts. It was believed it would demonstrate that this was a project that would actually be followed through on, and stage one would show the viability of it as a space, and thus be more likely for state and federal governments to come to the table for stages two and three. Stage one was completed, council changed, and they've effectively sat on their hands since. After going it alone on stage one, the council definitely needs co-funding to pursue the next stages.

[Patrick_27]

And the state government funding for Vic Square...?
Wasn't the last council asking for state funding or more of it to finish the project?
Why didn't the previous council sign contracts for the second stage of the project? Did they intend to go on with it, or was it contingent on funding from the state, so no real commitment to it? Easy to blame the new council(and rightly so).

There has been no state government funding for Vic Square. Stage One was entirely funded by council.

After the masterplan was developed, council tried to get contributions from both the state and federal governments. After being knocked back by both, it was decided to proceed with stage one in order to finally get some movement after decades of failed attempts. It was believed it would demonstrate that this was a project that would actually be followed through on, and stage one would show the viability of it as a space, and thus be more likely for state and federal governments to come to the table for stages two and three. Stage one was completed, council changed, and they've effectively sat on their hands since. After going it alone on stage one, the council definitely needs co-funding to pursue the next stages.

The ACC of the time would have been better off proceeding with what was anticipated to be stage three (re-squaring the square) to fuck up the square's aesthetic by simply doing the job and not finishing it properly, probably would've made for a state election issue then. As childish as this sounds, politics is generally childish so why not, eh?