New health and medical research hub to be developed on North Tce, Adelaide

A huge new 28-storey health and medical research hub on North Tce will tower over the state’s oldest church – but it has the church’s blessing. See the pictures.

A new $450 million 28-storey health and medical research hub will be developed on North Tce, towering over historic Trinity Church.

The new site dubbed Trinity City will be the “bridge” between Adelaide’s existing $3.8bn BioMed City precinct, which is home to SAHMRI, UniSA and University of Adelaide, and the Royal Adelaide Hospital, the developers say.

The centre will be constructed on land adjoining the church – the state’s oldest – at 88 North Tce in the CBD.

The project, which has the “full support” of Trinity Church, also will include a major restoration of the church and two other local heritage buildings.

Supplied Editorial Trinity City development artist impression. Picture: supplied

The development was originally planned to be 15 storeys high but will now be 13 storeys higher and 60,000sq m – making it one of the largest buildings in the state.

Developed by 1835 Capital and Marlborough Capital, the site also includes 173 electric vehicle car parks and a childcare centre.

Trinity Church on the corner of Morphett Road and North Terrace, which is involved in the new Trinity City medical health and research hub. Picture: Michael Marschall

1835 Capital managing director Jason Di Iulio said his firm was in talks with potential tenants for the 41,000sq m of office space that would be built, with the first tenants expected to be secured by the first quarter of next year.

“We’re expecting global AI (artificial intelligence)-driven health corporations looking to collaborate with the state and anyone else within the biomedical precinct, and also wanting to collaborate with the infrastructure at Lot Fourteen,” he said.

“It’s the investment the government’s making in the biomedical precinct ... that’s driving a significant increase in demand for office, dry lab space, wet lab space in that precinct.

“We want to expand that and make it the medical Lot Fourteen of South Australia, which means jobs and future recurring income for the state.”

The developers are aiming to have tenants signed up for 40-to-50 per cent of the building’s office space before the start of construction, which is expected in the latter half of next year.

Mr Di Iulio said the 200-person auditorium also planned for the building would hold educational talks and TED talks.

Artist's impression of the original development proposal. The tower will now be even bigger. Picture: Supplied

Trade and Investment Minister Nick Champion said health systems were rapidly accelerating towards a digital future involving genomics and AI.

“We are working with the largest pharmaceutical and digital health companies in the world to undertake research and cutting-edge product development in our state,” Mr Champion said.

“Trinity City will be the perfect addition to Adelaide BioMed City, as South Australia emerges as a global leader in data driven precision medicine.”

Paul Harrington, from Trinity Church, said the church had served the people of Adelaide since 1836.

“The proposed Trinity City development will enhance our ability to continue our mission for decades and generations to come,” Mr Harrington said.

Plans for Trinity City are expected to be lodged with the State Commission Assessment Panel for approval in the coming weeks. About 450 full-time jobs will be created during construction, which is expected to be completed by 2025.

Originally published as New health and medical research hub to be developed on North Tce, Adelaide