Flinders University to open city campus in Adelaide’s most controversial building

The controversial office tower built between Parliament House and the Festival Centre opens this week, and Flinders University wants it to transform education in the city.

Adelaide’s most controversial building, the Walker-developed Flinders University tower north of Parliament House, will be formally launched on Thursday after a decade-long saga.

Flinders is the anchor tenant in the 29-storey tower, on the Festival Plaza precinct which the late Sydney property tycoon Lang Walker in 2012 won exclusive rights to develop.

Flinders is occupying eight of Festival Tower’s 29 floors, creating the state’s first vertical university campus and the most modern.

The strategic location, in the heart of business, government, law, arts and health precincts, positions Flinders as a competitor to the merged universities of Adelaide and South Australia, opening in 2026 as Adelaide University.

Premier Peter Malinauskas and Flinders vice-chancellor Colin Stirling will officially launch the building on Thursday morning, ahead of a gala opening on Friday night.

Student Matilda Lindquist outside the new building. Picture: Brett Hartwig

Matilda Lindquist checks out the interior of the new building. Picture: Brett Hartwig

Professor Stirling said Flinders was Australia’s fastest-growing research institution, having increased by 140 per cent in five years, delivering high-impact outcomes contributing to the state economy.

“Flinders is proud to unveil our new city campus, bringing a new era of contemporary education to the heart of the city, offering more choices and opportunities for students,” he said.

An artist's impression of the Flinders University branding on the North Terrace. Picture supplied by Walker Corporation and Flinders University.

“A beacon for world-class education and a magnet for top-tier researchers, Flinders University has always offered unparalleled student support and an exceptional learning experience. Our new city campus combines the benefits of a Flinders University education with the convenience of a city centre location, making us more accessible than ever before.”

Flinders city campus offers more than 100 undergraduate, postgraduate and honours program, positioned as bespoke, one-on-one learning ahead of the larger merged Adelaide University’s offerings.

A 2021 artist's impression taking a bird's eye view of floors in the Festival Tower then being built by Walker Corporation. Picture supplied by Walker Corporation and Flinders University

Years of wrangling over the Festival Plaza precinct ended when the former Liberal government in 2021 hammered out a final deal with Mr Walker, who was hailed as a visionary who helped change the face of Adelaide after his death in late January.

Under that deal for the $663m redevelopment, an office tower of up to 29 storeys and an associated three-storey retail/entertainment complex was agreed to be built on the plaza – bounded by Parliament House, the festival centre, casino and King William Rd.

New Flinders Tower Preview. Picture: Brett Hartwig

A significant, unspecified cost blowout to the public plaza’s $253.5m transformation was shouldered by Walker Corporation, in return for concessions including two extra levels for the then-approved, 27-storey office tower.

Walker Corporation has proposed a second office tower adjacent Parliament House, which is being assessed by Renewal SA.