Adelaide Festival Plaza redevelopment

About the plaza redevelopment

The Adelaide Riverbank is fast becoming our city’s success story and is changing the way our state is viewed interstate and overseas

The upgrade of the Adelaide Festival Plaza is key to delivering a Riverbank that not only generates economic growth, but becomes a compelling destination of choice for local, interstate and overseas visitors by enhancing the public experience and improving how the area is used and perceived.

Back in March 2015, Renewal SA embraced an opportunity to leverage other development happening in and around the Adelaide Riverbank by developing a proposal with Walker Group Holdings Pty Ltd for the integrated redevelopment of the Adelaide Festival Plaza site.

The plaza redevelopment will see 16,500m2 of public space established in the areas surrounding the Adelaide Festival Centre, Adelaide Railway Station, Adelaide Casino, Parliament House and Old Parliament House and Station Road.

The upgrade of the public realm will be supplemented by the construction of a 24-storey office tower, retail space and a redeveloped, 1560-space car park. Upgrades are also being made to the Adelaide Festival Centre (AFC), for more information visit the Adelaide Festival Centre website.

The state government has committed $180 million towards the project, supported by a $430 million contribution from Walker.

These commitments will be enhanced by the $330 million expansion of the Adelaide Casino by SKYCITY Adelaide Pty Ltd.

Targeting the separation of vehicle and pedestrian movements and remaining sensitive to the existing culture and heritage of the location, the new plaza will be the centrepiece of a revitalised arts, cultural and leisure space embracing the Riverbank at the heart of our vibrant city.

Plans for the redevelopment of the Adelaide Festival Plaza public realm were granted development plan consent (subject to conditions) by the Minister for Planning back on 4 May 2016.

Vision for the plaza

Adelaide Festival Plaza is set to become our city’s premier public meeting place—an engaging, safe and accessible space for all to enjoy

Working in close partnership with industry specialists and interest groups, the Riverbank Authority developed five 'place principles' to ensure the vision for the plaza was reflected in any concept designs for the site.

#1: A compelling destination
Adelaide’s premier entertainment destination and an engaging place that welcomes people from all walks of life.

#2: The heart of the Riverbank
An integrated part of the Adelaide Riverbank, with coordinated places and programs, and clear connections within and beyond the plaza.

#3: Event-ready space
Well serviced with built-in facilities and infrastructure to enable convenient and elegant adaptation for temporary events, festivals and performances of different scales and durations.

#4: Dynamic and evolving place
A place that offers a different experience every time, that celebrates the seasons, and is brought to life by a balance of curated and spontaneous activities.

#5: Distinctive place
Adelaide Festival Plaza will be a memorable and distinctive place that embodies a unique account of the people, cultural life and character of Adelaide, combining relaxed sophistication with creative endeavour.

Plaza design

The upgraded Festival Plaza will become a unique, world-class hub for the arts, culture, tourism and entertainment

The redeveloped plaza will be defined by a number of key ‘places’ including, the new square, the northern promenade, a stronger integration with King William Street, the Art Space Plaza, a reimagined Station Road and a new entry to the Adelaide Railway Station.

The promenade along the northern face of the Adelaide Festival Centre will be substantially upgraded to provide wider pathways and improved connections to the theatres. It will incorporate a ‘Walk of Fame’, comprising stars set into the walkway celebrating performers past and present.

The new square will be Adelaide’s best meeting place. It will not only be a popular path for people walking through this part of the city, but a space in which to stop and spend time, either passively by sitting, relaxing, eating lunch and studying or actively, by attending events and functions, playing and dining.

The new square will be used for gatherings and events hosting up to thousands of people and will boast a water feature as well as shaded, leafy alcoves and ‘outdoor rooms’.

Proposed outdoor dining and associated retail activities, along with the provision of free WiFi access across the new square and immediate surrounding areas, will provide a place in which to linger and embrace the Adelaide climate.

The redesign of Station Road will transform this area into a picturesque north-south boulevard connecting the city to the new Adelaide Festival Plaza, Elder Park and ultimately the River Torrens. This primarily pedestrian avenue will also serve as a meeting point featuring landscaping, trees and seating on either side to provide opportunities for people to rest and reflect. Vehicle access will be limited and controlled by the presence of motorised retractable bollards. The improved connectivity of this thoroughfare should encourage greater use, resulting in an area that is both active and safe.

Access to the theatres will be enhanced and visitors will be able to relax in a central garden as they wait for a performance to begin, enjoy a bite to eat from the adjacent café facilities, or experience activities in the new Art Space Plaza. Those who are passing through the area to the Adelaide Festival Centre, Adelaide Casino or Elder Park will be able to do so easily via the grand flight of stairs or lifts, providing equitable access for all.

A new pedestrian overpass will provide direct, level access from the Riverbank Footbridge to a new Adelaide Railway Station entry, delivering desired separation of pedestrian and vehicle access. The Adelaide Casino expansion will result in a new arcade linking the promenade to the existing train station entry and featuring an exquisite arched ceiling and retail outlets. The expansion of the Adelaide Casino will also extend out over Festival Drive with a grand flight of stairs and lift access connecting it to the new Art Space Plaza.

View the concept designs below.

Watch the progress

Since redevelopment of the iconic Adelaide Festival Plaza began in December 2016 it has been constantly changing.

Watch the Adelaide Festival Plaza redevelopment project site progress in the following time lapse video.

Adelaide Festival Plaza, February 2017–December 2018

Since the Adelaide Festival Plaza redevelopment began in December 2016, significant work has gone into preparing the plaza and restricting access for construction, with hoarding around the entire 3.9 hectare site.

Time lapse video began being captured in early 2017 with the demolition and removal of bridges, clearing of existing roads, relocation of sewer and stormwater mains, and preparation of the site for construction.

From mid-to-late-2017 site activity was focused on the construction of 342 concrete piles that will form the foundations for the SKYCITY Adelaide Casino redevelopment and surrounding public realm.

Between early and mid-2018 site activity was focused on the grade separation works that will enable precinct service and delivery access beneath the future Festival Plaza.

By mid-2018 construction had begun on the $330 million SKYCITY Adelaide Casino redevelopment, with the first three floors of the concrete structure being completed by the end of 2018.

Watch other Adelaide Festival Plaza time lapse videos on Vimeo.

Redevelopment schedule

In May 2016, two agreements key to the commencement of the plaza redevelopment were signed

The development agreement between the state government and Walker Group Holdings Pty Ltd will result in the construction of an office building, retail area, upgraded car park, new public realm/area and the early works for expansion of the Adelaide Casino.

A staged approach to construction works aims to limit the impact on Riverbank visitors and those businesses located in the immediate surrounds.

Early works

Per the early works agreement signed by the state government and SKYCITY, construction began in November 2016 and involves the lowering of Festival Drive, which will separate vehicle and pedestrian movements and enable direct, on-foot access between the Riverbank Footbridge and Adelaide Railway Station. It will also include the early foundation work required to support the Adelaide Casino expansion.

In January 2017 works commenced on the northern side of the Adelaide Festival Centre to widen the east-to-west promenade, including the ‘Walk of Fame’, to create a seamless connection between the plaza and King William Street. This improved access on the river side of the centre also supports the creation of the new Festival Centre entry point to enable easier access to performances at the Dunstan Playhouse and Space Theatre. In July 2017 the Festival Theatre closed its doors for an upgrade, reopening in December 2017 with refurbished foyer, entry and new cafe and eatery.

This early works stage is scheduled for completion by early 2018, after which SKYCITY are expected to commence the Adelaide Casino expansion works.

Car park and public realm works

On site demolition commenced from July 2017 to enable the construction of the car park and the first section of the new public plaza, which is expected to be completed by 2020. The office building and retail spaces are scheduled to be finished by 2022.

The Adelaide Festival Centre car park was closed to facilitate development in December 2016.

Riverbank access during construction

The Riverbank Footbridge will remain open throughout the project, however public access will be restricted and temporary infrastructure will be installed to provide sporting event attendees with access between Adelaide Oval and the Adelaide Railway Station.

Hoarding and signage has been installed to help visitors navigate and keep them safe during construction. To assist you navigating to your Adelaide Riverbank destination download the current map.

Adelaide Railway Station Northern Doors

The Adelaide Railway Station Northern doors are now open, subject to occasional temporary closure to allow for construction activities.

The doors will open for major events on the Adelaide Riverbank (including Adelaide Oval events such as the Big Bash series, international cricket matches and AFL games) and are typically open at least two hours prior to the event starting.

Working with the community

There has been strong community support for an upgrade of the plaza and to take the once-in-a-generation opportunity to establish a world-class meeting space that all South Australians can be proud of and will want to spend time in

In addition to community responses gathered by the state government on the Festival Plaza through its broader planning for redevelopment of the Adelaide Riverbank, Renewal SA captured feedback on the draft vision and driving principles for Riverbank reactivation. Summary reports on the proposed whole of Riverbank revitalisation are available on the Renewal SA website.

Cultural and artistic considerations

Dedicated consultation has been undertaken with Indigenous community bodies and the State Heritage Unit, with both informing the formal development assessment process. Initial consultation with the Kaurna and Ramindjeri groups has been undertaken and will continue throughout the design and construction of the project. An Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Management Plan will be developed for the project site and liaison with Kaurna elders will continue to ensure the sensitive removal and relocation of the Indigenous public art impacted by construction.

Understandably there were concerns about the impact to the artworks that are recognisable features of the current plaza. Arts South Australia will continue the formal process of working with the artists and their families to ensure that the removal and/or reinstatement of each piece is handled diligently and with respect to the artist. A strategy will be developed to determine how we can best include arts and cultural activity into the plaza using feedback from the public and creative forums.

Removal of artworks has now begun with plans to reinstate some works into the redeveloped plaza. Further details of this process are outlined in the frequently asked questions (right).

In August 2015, Renewal SA hosted a creative forum to seek input and inform development of the plaza’s Public Art and Cultural Strategy. The resulting strategy for the Adelaide Festival Plaza is due for publication in the second half of 2016.

Community forums

The views and thoughts of city dwellers, families, young entrepreneurs and students were also expressed at community forum events and reported to inform the final concept designs.

We welcome you to read the forum reports (available right).

Information Day

In early 2016 Renewal SA and the Department of Planning, Transport & Infrastructure directly reached more than 2000 people at our information day held on the Adelaide Festival Plaza. Overall, we received positive feedback to the plaza concept designs—people were excited by the planned new event spaces, improved pedestrian access, and responded positively to the increased greenery, water features and shaded seating.

Community members who felt strongly about the plans were encouraged to submit formal feedback to the Development Assessment Commission during the statutory public consultation period. The commission considered 38 public submissions in providing their recommendation to the Minister on the Festival Plaza development application.

Following community consultation and feedback processes, new designs were developed to expand the green space to incorporate approximately one third of the plaza area.

Downloads

Design concepts

Concept designs were developed by ARM Architecture and landscape architecture consultants Taylor Cullity Lethlean (TCL) in collaboration with the Adelaide Festival Centre’s architectural consultants Hassell

The following design plans and images are indicative only and subject to change.
Click on images below to view larger versions and image descriptions.