This 34-storey tower doesn’t belong on North Tce, says State Government architect

THE design of this 34-storey student accommodation tower does not fit the character of the city’s premier cultural boulevard, says a concerned government architect. Is he right?

• More about the proposed North Tce student accommodation tower

THE design of a 34-storey student accommodation tower proposed for North Tce does not fit the character of the city’s premier cultural boulevard, says a concerned government architect.

Developer Global Student Accommodation (GSA) has proposed the $60 million, 680-bed complex for the southwest corner of North Tce and Frome Rd.

The site is currently occupied by a First Church of Christ Scientist building that will be demolished to make way for a new contemporary building.

However, concerns have been raised by associate government architect Nick Tridente about how the building will “fit into the existing streetscape and character”.

Global Student Accommodation’s proposed design for a 34-storey building on the corner of North Tce and Frome Rd.

Mr Tridente gave his support to the “aspiration to deliver a high-density student residential facility in this location” but said North Tce had a distinct character with grand buildings that front the footpath.

“The location of the site is considered significant as the city’s gateway and it offers a unique opportunity for a corner development,” he wrote in his referral.

“It will be critical that the proposal presents a convincing response to the established character of the city’s premier boulevard, which in my opinion, is yet to be successfully demonstrated.”

The setting back of the proposed contemporary building from the street corner, along with “fins” that change thickness and depth as they travel up the building, were Mr Tridente’s main concerns.

How the proposed tower would look from street level.

Developer GSA engaged its own architect who refuted the claims, stating the “the design has taken a similar contemporary approach as the Adelaidean apartment tower to the south on Frome St” which is under construction.

It has since made some minor changes to the proposed building design to address the issues raised by Mr Tridente — who remains concerned about the “appropriateness” of the facade.

If approved at a State Planning Commission meeting on Thursday, construction of the building is expected to start in coming months and be completed in late 2019.