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One Festival Tower on Adelaide CBD riverbank tops out at 115m, making it tallest electric-only building in SA

One Festival Tower has topped out at 115m, making it the tallest electric-only building in SA, with a ceremony to mark the occasion. See the views across Adelaide.

Festival Tower

The CBD skyline has welcomed a new colossal building – One Festival Tower – which has hit its 115-metre peak, making it the tallest electric-only building in Adelaide.

Showcasing 360-degree views across the city thanks to its position in the Riverbank precinct, the Walker Corporation says the 29-floor, all-electric office tower is now 90 per cent filled with tenants.

Deloitte, Flinders University, Mott MacDonald and VALO are set to take up space in the modern tower with Deloitte saying the move was a necessity.

Views from the 29th floor of the One Festival Tower. Picture: Evangeline Polymeneas
Views from the 29th floor of the One Festival Tower. Picture: Evangeline Polymeneas
One Festival Tower rises over Parliament House in January. Picture: Ben Clark
One Festival Tower rises over Parliament House in January. Picture: Ben Clark

Speaking to The Advertiser, Deloitte’s South Australian managing partner Hendri Mentz said Deloitte in SA has outgrown its Waymouth St office and was keen to move into the tower when it’s completed in six months time.

“We are going to end up with around 1500 people in Adelaide over the next three to four years,” he said. “At the moment we’re just short of 600 people.

“We don’t have capacity in our current offices … this building gives us fantastic capacity but it’s also a world-class location.”

Deloitte employee Stephanie Rillo is really excited about the move especially the introduction of the company’s “innovation jungle”.

“It’s going to give an opportunity for people in Deloitte to be able to experiment … and create something new,” she said.

Walker Corporation CEO David Gallant, with Premier Peter Malinauskas at the One Festival Tower, watering a tree as per construction tradition. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Kelly Barnes
Walker Corporation CEO David Gallant, with Premier Peter Malinauskas at the One Festival Tower, watering a tree as per construction tradition. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Kelly Barnes

Despite the keen tenants, Premier Peter Malinauskas said the building came with “controversy” and “criticism” when it was first contemplated.

“There were no shortage of people providing commentary saying that this (tower) shouldn’t happen,” Mr Malinauskas said, standing on the 29th floor of the building. “Where are they now?”

The view from the top of the One Festival Tower. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Kelly Barnes
The view from the top of the One Festival Tower. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Kelly Barnes
The view from the top of the One Festival Tower. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Kelly Barnes
The view from the top of the One Festival Tower. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Kelly Barnes
Adelaide Oval, as seen from the top of the One Festival Tower. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Kelly Barnes
Adelaide Oval, as seen from the top of the One Festival Tower. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Kelly Barnes
The view from the top of the One Festival Tower. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Kelly Barnes
The view from the top of the One Festival Tower. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Kelly Barnes

Mr Malinauskas said his government, including Minister Nick Champion, was in discussion with Walker Corporation to change their plans to build another three-storey building that would “block the vista of Parliament House to the Festival Plaza”.

“I think it’s a terrible public policy,” the Premier said. “We’re going to drive a hard bargain … the Festival Plaza is a key precinct for our state culturally … we’ve got to get it right.

“We’re not going to have Walker Corp or any other previous policy arrangement denying the opportunity that should exist here in the precinct.”

Once completed in six months time, the One Festival Tower building will receive 100 per cent of its electricity from renewable sources.

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Original URL: https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/one-festival-tower-on-adelaide-cbd-riverbank-tops-out-at-115m-making-it-tallest-electriconly-building-in-sa/news-story/0d7f9c3904638c3e337e1528178cf3dc