U City to take the place of former Maughan church on corner of Franklin and Pitt Sts
CONSTRUCTION is about to begin at a prime CBD site which has been the cause of much controversy over the past 12 months.
CONSTRUCTION is about to begin at a prime CBD site which has been the cause of much controversy over the past 12 months.
South Australian charity, Uniting Communities, will start work next month on its $80 million development project on the site of the former Maughan church on the corner of Franklin and Pitt streets in Adelaide.
National construction leader Built has been appointed as the site builder for the 20 storey building which will include a specialist disability short stay accommodation facility, six floors of retirement living residences, long-term rental accommodation for people living with a disability, retail and office spaces, a 400 seat function centre and ground floor cafe and retail centre.
The new building — to be known as ‘U City’ — has been designed as a world first, mixed use facility and will take around two years to complete said Uniting Communities chief executive officer, Simon Schrapel
“The building’s name, ‘U City’ was chosen to sum up the multifaceted activities within our new building, including a central city, high-rise retirement village,” he said.
“It’s modern, simple and a little bit quirky, reflecting the essence of the services Uniting Communities provides to South Australians in need.”
Up to 180 people will be employed during construction said Uniting Communities which employed architects Woods Bagot to design the building.
The project will be funded by Uniting Commuities own funds plus the sale of 41 retirement apartments on-site and a $7.44 million state government grant.
It has also been awarded a $1 million commonwealth government grant to support the fit out of the long term disability rental apartments.
There will be 21 long term apartments available for people with disabilities and a further 18 short stay respite accommodation spaces.
The 1965 built, neo Gothic church had a provisional heritage protection which was removed at the request of the State Government so the new development could go ahead.
Maughan Church is named after local preacher James Maughan who, in 1864, organised the building of the church for 600 people before it was replaced by the modern church in the 1960s and was home to 5KA, one of Adelaide’s earliest radio stations.
It has a history of polarising views around its heritage values and was listed by the Australian Institute of Architects’ SA chapter as one of the state’s most nationally significant examples of 20th-century design.
Brett Mason, managing director of Built, which has annual revenues of more than $1 billion, was upbeat around its commitment to the SA market and its relationships with local sub contractors and suppliers.
“We believe in making a positive impact in the communities in which we operate and this project provides us with a great opportunity to reinvigorate this part of central Adelaide for the community and contribute to new jobs and economic growth,” he said.
U City has been designed to a minimum five star green rating (as recognised by The Green Building Council of Australia), and will include a 50 kilowatt solar system on the roof.