The contract for the construction of Adelaide Festival Plaza’s Northern Promenade, part of the $900 million Festival Plaza precinct upgrade, has been awarded.
Badge Constructions was awarded the contract which aims to transform the northern face of the Festival Centre by opening it out to Elder Park and creating a welcoming new entrance, embracing the park and River Torrens.
The $23 million works are part of the more than $900 million Festival Plaza precinct upgrade which also includes the creation of a new square, a 27-storey office tower, carpark and retail space, and the proposed SKYCITY Casino expansion.
A major feature will be the Hollywood-style “Walk of Fame”, with the east-to-west promenade on the river side of the Adelaide Festival Centre widened to create a seamless connection between the plaza and King William Road.
As well as new entries to the Festival Centre, the works will also deliver an upgrade to the Elder Park Kiosk, toilets and a new landscaped transition area from the Festival Centre to Elder Park on the site of the current amphitheatre.
The area will feature integrated seating and disability access, connecting the Festival Centre with a new interactive children’s arts play area.
South Australian Minister for Housing and Urban Development, Stephen Mullighan, said the redeveloped Adelaide Festival Plaza will take Adelaide’s premier arts venue to a whole new level, becoming a fitting centrepiece of the iconic Adelaide Riverbank Precinct.
“While the old amphitheatre and plaza hold special memories for many South Australians who’ve visited the Festival Centre over the years, they were not easily accessible and in need of repair and rejuvenation,” Mr Mullighan said.
“It will become an inviting and welcoming destination for all South Australians to discover and enjoy, whether attending a sporting or arts event, meeting friends or a place to relax.
“The Festival Plaza redevelopment will transform what is currently an empty neglected space into a vibrant public precinct linking some of Adelaide’s most popular destinations for locals and visitors alike.”
Festival Centre CEO and Artistic Director, Douglas Gautier, said the redevelopment of the North Face of the Adelaide Festival Centre will re-orientate the centre so that it embraces the river.
“The new entrances will encourage people to enter the centre from the riverbank and will make access easy for everyone, including mothers with prams or people with mobility issues. This fits with the centre’s philosophy of promoting accessibility to the arts for all,” Mr Gautier said.
The works are expected to begin in early 2017 and completed in the third quarter of 2017.