Adelaide will see a 16-storey ‘Lego’ hotel pop up in around two weeks
A PLANNED new $32-million city hotel will be pieced together like Lego — with the entire 16 storeys to be put together in less than two weeks.
A PLANNED new $32-million city hotel will be pieced together like Lego — with the entire 16 storeys to be put together in less than two weeks.
Developers say they will build “a level a day” using new modular technology, in which large segments are premade overseas.
Design company Intro director Nigel Howden said the use of the modular construction was a “game changer”.
Mr Howden said the 4.5-star Lester hotel, planned for near the new Royal Adelaide Hospital, would be largely made in China, shipped to Adelaide and then put together on site
“It’s certainly a new way of building in Adelaide … there’s been a couple of schemes on the east coast using this building technology, but nothing like this hotel,” he said.
“We can build a hotel within 12 to 13 days — a level a day. Building in the city centre is hard but if you can do it in two weeks it’s a game changer.
“There will be on-site building to build the lower levels out of concrete and then the other levels will be made in China, shipped to Adelaide and built on site.
“This is a real test bed for this kind of construction. This building will be one of the tallest in Australia using modular construction technology.”
Plans are with the Development Assessment Commission but are expected to be approved within weeks.
The hotel at 13 West Tce, owned by Adelaide’s “carpark king” Damian Lester, will have 244 rooms with three larger suites, a ground floor cafe, bar and restaurant space and mezzanine level with conference rooms and gym.
Mr Howden said the hotel would cater for the new hospital and the rise in occupancy during Adelaide’s festival season.
“We’ve taken in to account what demographic would use this hotel because of its proximity to the new hospital,” he said.
“There’s also a shortfall during festival time and operators are aware of that.”
State Government figures show Adelaide’s occupancy rates in hotels from January to March, 2015, rose to 79.7 per cent from 79.5 per cent in 2014 and 76 per cent in 2013.
Tourism Minister Leon Bignell said the new hotel would be a further boost to the state’s $5.2 billion tourism industry.
“Three new hotels have opened and at least four more have been announced to be built in the next two to three years,” Mr Bignell said.
“This sort of investment doesn’t happen by accident.
“We have certainly attracted (visitor’s) attention with Lonely Planet, The New York Times and London’s Sunday Times all rating Adelaide as one of the best places in the world to visit.”
Adelaide City Council Lord Mayor Martin Haese said the hotel was a “vote of confidence” in the city and the medical precinct.
Adelaide-based Genesin Studio will do the interior design of the hotel.
Construction is expected to start within the next six months and developers hope it will be open by March 2016.