Adelaide is set to introduce its inaugural skyscraper with the announcement of a $600 million commercial tower to be constructed at Festival Plaza. This 38-storey sustainable building, reaching a height of 160 metres, will claim the title of Adelaide’s tallest structure, fundamentally transforming the city’s skyline and contributing an estimated $1 billion annually to the state’s economy.
Premier Peter Malinauskas has expressed strong confidence in the development, highlighting it as a sign of the state’s improving economic prospects. He remarked, “I have really big ambitions for the CBD… we have to grow up,” reflecting the need to adapt to the city’s growth.
The planned tower aims to accommodate over 5,000 office employees and around 100 retail staff across various dining establishments, including restaurants, cafes, and bars. Malinauskas believes that having a larger working population in this area will energise the city’s environment.
The new proposal represents a notable shift from an earlier plan for a modest three-storey retail structure, which would have hindered views of the nearby Parliament House. Instead, the new design includes the development of a ten-metre-wide laneway, adorned with shops and cafes, that will connect the tower to Parliament House.
A development application for the project is expected to be submitted shortly, with an anticipated completion date set for 2027.