New city tower on King William St will be taller than neighbouring Westpac House

A MASSIVE new tower in the heart of Adelaide is set for approval this week — and by the time it’s completed, the neighbouring building that has been the city’s tallest for 30 years will be relegated to equal-third.

A MASSIVE new tower in the heart of Adelaide is set for approval this week — and by the time it’s completed, the neighbouring building that has been the city’s tallest for 30 years will be relegated to equal-third.

A 132.4m high hotel, apartment and office building on the northern corner of Currie St and King William St is earmarked for approval by the State Commission Assessment Panel on Thursday.

It will sit across Currie St from Westpac House, which has been Adelaide’s tallest building since it was opened in 1988.

Artist impression of 75 King William. Supplied by Loucas Zahos Architects.

The new 39-storey tower, designed by Adelaide architects Loucas Zahos for Equinox Property Group (75KWS) Pty Ltd, would become Adelaide’s second-tallest building behind the 135m Adelaidean hotel apartment tower under construction in the East End.

It will be less than half a metre taller than Westpac House, as well as the 132m-high Realm Adelaide apartments in Austin Place, also under construction.

In agenda papers for Thursday’s meeting, Department of Transport and Infrastructure consultant planner David Barone said the tower would add to Adelaide.

“The proposed development supports the Capital City Zone’s intent of being the focus for the economic and cultural focus for the state,” he said.

“The land uses proposed are envisaged by the Zone and Policy Area and are arranged in a format consistent with the zone, particularly in relation to active uses such as shops at ground level, residential land uses above ground level and entertainment uses such as bars above ground level.

“The development comprises a high-scale building to the street face that frames the street and addresses this important corner location.”

The development will include 78 apartments and 266 hotel rooms.

It will also have two restaurants, including one in addition bar on the 38th storey, conference rooms and retail tenancies.

Building it will involve the current Adelaide Metro information centre being razed on the 1480sqm site.

Property title details show the site of the proposed building is owned by company 75 King William St, whose Sydney-based directors and shareholders are Hai Guo, 33, and Qian Mai, 27, of Darlinghurst.

The company paid $8.388 million for the property in July.

The Advertiser attempted to contact Equinox Property Group for comment.

ADELAIDE’S TALLEST BUILDINGS

THE ADELAIDEAN — 135m

27 Frome Street

Hotel and apartments

Under construction

The Adelaidean hotel and apartment building will become Adelaide’s tallest building at 135m tall when completed.

REALM ADELAIDE — 132m

Austin Place

Apartments

Under construction

The 132m Realm Adelaide apartment tower will feature 311 apartments and be equal in height to Adelaide’s current tallest building Westpac House.

WESTPAC HOUSE — 132m

Currie Street

Offices

Completed 1988

Westpac House, formerly Santos House and the State Bank Building, will lose its mantle as Adelaide’s tallest building.

269 NORTH TCE — 118m

Corner North Tce and Frome St

Student accommodation

Approved

SOFITEL HOTEL/LUMINESQUE — 117m

108 Currie St

Hotel and apartments

Approved

The 34-storey North Tce Global Student Accommodation building that was granted development approval last month.

The Sofitel group will anchor the Currie Street hotel and apartment tower with construction imminent.