Former Bank of South Australia building could be demolished for $85m, 28-storey hotel
A heritage-listed building in the CBD could be torn down for an 28-storey, five-star hotel — because of the “brutal” 1980s addition.
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A heritage-listed building on Pirie St may be knocked down to make way for an $85 million hotel because it has “brutal” architectural elements and is not worth retaining, a State Government document shows.
The State Commission Assessment Panel has recommended the facade of the former Bank of South Australia building be demolished to make way for the 28-storey development as the “benefits of the proposal … outweigh the benefits of retention”.
“Since the time of its original construction (1927), a number of developments have occurred on the land which have diminished the integrity of its original heritage value,” the report said.
“This includes the substantial redevelopment in the 1980s which stripped all internal finishes, and expanded the built form to the east with a brutal concrete express-form addition which directly adjoins what remains of the Local Heritage Place.”
The building is locally heritage-listed as a townscape – meaning that parts of the building contribute to the overall character of the wider area.
CES Pirie Hotel (SA) bought the site, which was most recently an office supplies shop, for $15.9 million in July 2018, RP CoreLogic Data shows.
The company lodged an application, on February 22 this year, for a five-star hotel development with 294 rooms, a ballroom, “dignitary” drop-off on Gawler Pl, three floor levels of parking, pool, gym, sky bar, restaurant and meeting rooms.
Adelaide City Council did not support the facade’s demolition because it did not meet its development plan requirements.
Adelaide City Council Deputy Lord Mayor Houssam Abiad said the council was supportive of development but it “needs to be sympathetic to our heritage”.
CES Pirie Hotel has been contacted for comment.
SCAP will assess the application on Thursday.
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