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

[Prodical]

Taken on Sunday - the core is at 10 and the floors now at level 7. There are crane sections sitting on the cement flooring in the back of one photo - hard to see them, but I would assume a crane rise soonish.

You can really see the core from KWS and North Terrace - at last a change in skyline for this part of the city.

[Llessur2002]

From this morning:

[talrok]

Walked through there Saturday night .. is there any plan for say a big screen and to make it a gathering area for say big sporting events, eg. Socceroos, Footy Finals, Olympics etc. as when that new building goes up there will be bugger all room to fit more than a couple hundred people between them and Festival Theatre. I may be late to this forum but thought it was ment to be like a nice plaza, town square, piazza, trg, capable of attracting thousands of people. Vic Square for such events feels too isolated.

[[Shuz]]

I think we got sold a lemon on it being anything like Federation Square with a video screen for events. If anything it'll probably go the way of the former Hajek Plaza. A very expensive upgrade for little difference.

[Patrick_27]

Let’s us not forget the fact that the Rann government flat out refused to chip in funding for the Victoria Square upgrade instead opting to focus their attention on this redevelopment. The Victoria Square master plan had a far greater focus on becoming a large, open civic space. This whole development has become about the government of alleviating their responsibility of an otherwise dilapidated plaza and cashing in on the space with minimal public gain.

[SRW]

Let’s us not forget the fact that the Rann government flat out refused to chip in funding for the Victoria Square upgrade instead opting to focus their attention on this redevelopment. The Victoria Square master plan had a far greater focus on becoming a large, open civic space. This whole development has become about the government of alleviating their responsibility of an otherwise dilapidated plaza and cashing in on the space with minimal public gain.

It would far more tolerable if we had in fact 'cashed in', but the state has actually outlayed almost $220 million for this upgrade. The Walker deal is scandalously bereft of public benefit.

I'm not so pessimistic about the design though — it's now at least a pleasant forecourt if lacking enough greenery. Larger events are more suitable anyway on Elder Park and (the very underutilised) Torrens Parade Ground.

Re: Victoria Square, I am sad that the masterplan has not been realised, and mad that the council spent what should have been the Stage 2 budget buying up the old Le Cornu site for private development. But I don't think Victoria Square should be a big events space — given the centre of the city is the furthest from park lands, the square should prioritise green space (more Hyde Park Sydney than Federation Square). The masterplan imagined mosaic gardens in the southern half.

[Nort]

This is all about deals to benefit a private developer and justify destroying the previous plaza to build a Carpark.

It's absolutely clear from the way the previous plaza was neglected and left to decay for years. If it had good upkeep and events planned on it most of the stated public space goals of this would have been achieved.

[Prodical]

Taken from a moving tram on Sunday

The slip form is coming up over Parliament house - good to see

[Prodical]

oops

[Spotto]

This is all about deals to benefit a private developer and justify destroying the previous plaza to build a Carpark.

Don’t you mean destroying the previous carpark to build a new bigger carpark?

The plaza will still be there, now just with the added “benefit” of a massive high rise tower looming over it

[Prodical]

From near the zoo last night - core up to level 12

[VinyTapestry849]

Good progress from the Seven News Camera this morning, starting to have a more prominent seat in the skyline.

[Prodical]

From the Torrens

[HiTouch]

This is definitely going to take up most of the skyline in your average Torrens Lake Convention Centre shots.
Fingers crossed, they use decent glass.

[Uncle Monty]

We’ve got glazing! Looks quite reflective.