Photo courtesy: Walker Corporation
It is business as usual at the newest addition to Adelaide’s skyline – the $1 billion Festival Tower – following the Riverbank skyscrapers’ official opening.
Premier Peter Malinauskas and Walker Corporation managing director David Gallant opened the fully tenanted building earlier this month, home to a portfolio of major businesses including Deloitte, Origin Energy, and its latest signing, Westpac earlier this month.
Westpac signed a tenancy deal across five floors of office space, which marked one of the largest leasing deals in Adelaide over the past decade, according to Mr Gallant.
Flinders University opened its cutting-edge, vertical campus at the tower in February, with more than 100 undergraduate, postgraduate and honours programs on offer.
Adelaide Economic Development Agency (AEDA) General Manager Greg Ratsch said the full house marked an exciting time for the precinct.
“The 29-storey Festival Tower increases activation of the Festival Plaza, an important city landmark that has become a destination for events, entertainment, arts, culture, lifestyle and now, doing business,” Mr Ratsch said.
“It allows some of the city’s most prominent business players, as well as Flinders University, to expand their presence in the city and operate out of high-quality office space.
“It is yet another vote of confidence in the CBD and contributes to the acceleration of its economic growth.”
Hear us, loud and proud, SA Premier says
Mr Malinauskas said the Festival Tower showed the rest of the country that South Australia was a business hotspot, with organisations flocking to secure high quality office space.
“(It) is a message we want the rest of Australia to hear loud and proud, South Australia is open for business with quality commercial offices rivalling anywhere in the country,” Mr Malinauskas said.
He hoped more businesses would call the Riverbank home after the completion of the development’s second, 36-storey tower.
“Commitment from professional services ... will only attract others to join this Riverbank precinct when the second tower goes up after going through the planning approval processes.”
It is an honour to be here, Walker Corporation
Mr Gallant said it was an “honour” to see the building not only completed but full.
He welcomed Westpac bank’s move into the building which would take up 9,000sq m of office space.
“It took something special for Westpac to move from its current office in Adelaide’s CBD which they have occupied since the 1940’s and we are thrilled to welcome their team to Adelaide’s premium commercial tower,” Mr Walker said.
“Festival Tower sets the benchmark for modern, connected and sustainable workplaces surrounded by the city’s best new amenities and restaurants, all linked by outstanding transport connectivity.”
We’re committed to you SA, Westpac
Westpac Group General Manager for Property, Procurement & Protective Services Carolyn Hoy said bank employees looked forward to working in high-quality office space.
“The move to Festival Tower continues our ongoing support for our customers, people and the community in South Australia,” Ms Hoy said.
“Bringing some of our Adelaide-based teams together under one roof will make it easier to collaborate and support customers.
“We’re looking forward to providing some of our Adelaide-based teams access to the same great facilities.”
Westpac planned to fit-out its new offices later this year, with teams anticipated to move into Festival Tower in 2025.
Flinders towers over town during open day
Hundreds of prospective Flinders University students descended on Festival Tower on 11 August 11 in the hope of securing one of the campuses 777 formal teaching seats.
The open day allowed students to look at courses in areas including business, government, law, criminology, psychology, health sciences, engineering, information technology and creative industries.
Flinders University vice-chancellor Professor Colin Stirling said learning at the Festival Tower propelled students into the epicenter of their future careers.
He said being involved in the booming precinct brought a new era of contemporary education to the heart of the city.
“A beacon for world-class education and a magnet for top-tier researchers, Flinders University has always offered unapparelled student support and an exceptional learning experience,” Prof Stirling said.
“Our new city campus combines the benefits of a Flinders University education with the convenience of a city centre location, making us more accessible than ever before.”
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