North Terrace twin towers pictured together in revised plans for 34-storey student accommodation tower

TWIN towers will soon dominate the vista along North Tce if a student accommodation building is approved to sit alongside a hotel and apartment project.

• 680-bed student accommodation tower for North Tce
• Government architect says student accommodation tower not right for North Tce

TWIN towers will soon dominate the vista along North Tce if a student accommodation building is approved to sit alongside a hotel and apartment complex.

Revised plans for Global Student Accommodation’s proposal for a 34-storey, $60 million building will go before the State Commission Assessment Panel on Thursday.

The 680-bed complex for international students would be built at the corner of North Tce and Frome St, next to Frome Central Tower One which is already under construction on Frome St.

Assessment of the GSA proposal was deferred last month after an associate government architect raised concerns that it did not fit the character of the city’s cultural boulevard.

New artist impression of Global Student Accommodation proposal for 34-storey building on corner of North Tce and Frome St, showing Adelaidean project next door.

Design changes include a canopy on the Frome St frontage, a colonnade on the North Tce side and internal alterations. The revised plans contain a concept image showing how the two buildings would radically change the face of North Tce.

At 134m, Frome Central is set to be Adelaide’s tallest building and house a Crowne Plaza Hotel and the Adelaidean apartments.

GSA head of real estate for Australia and New Zealand, Jon Whittle, was confident his company’s proposal would be approved as recommended by planning commission staff.

“We believe we’ve got a pretty exciting project which complements other buildings in the area, including the Adelaidean,” he said. “We’re still aiming at delivering the building by the end of next year, (ready) for the first student intake in 2020.”

The first step would be demolition of the 1950s First Church of Christ Scientist.

Adelaide City Council will on Tuesday night discuss uses for the old Royal Adelaide Hospital, a stone’s throw across North Tce from the tower sites.

How North Tce would look with the new twin buildings.

Councillor David Slama will seek support to lobby the State Government to include a training centre for apprentices and a trade services hub in vacant basements at the former hospital.

The State Government’s plans for the old RAH include a hospitality and food school, an Aboriginal art and culture gallery and potentially a hotel.

A “chief entrepreneur” would oversee the creation of an innovation and start-up business centre under the Liberal plan. Council papers say even if Mr Slama’s motion fails, the council will “continue to explore the full range of potential economic and cultural uses” of the site with the Government and Renewal SA.