Adelaide is set to break new ground with the approval of Festival Plaza Tower 2, a 160-meter, 38-story skyscraper, set to become the tallest commercial building in the city once completed. Endorsed by the State Commission Assessment Panel (SCAP), the building marks a major milestone in Adelaide’s evolution into a modern, globally recognized city.
The project, adjacent to the existing 29-story Festival Tower, will further energize the Riverbank Precinct, transforming it into a dynamic hub of business, culture, and community activity. Designed with sustainability at its core, Tower 2 will be Adelaide’s largest all-electric commercial building, boasting the city’s largest rooftop solar array and aiming to achieve 6-star NABERS energy certification—the first in South Australia. The building is set to reach carbon neutrality by 2028.
SCAP’s approval follows extensive design review and community consultation, resulting in enhancements to public access, landscaping, and connectivity to key civic landmarks including the Adelaide Railway Station, Adelaide Oval, and Parliament House. The development will feature landscaped plazas, outdoor dining, and pedestrian laneways, creating an active, accessible precinct.
Festival Plaza Tower 2 is expected to accommodate up to 5,000 office workers and generate more than AUD$1 billion in annual economic activity. It will also support 100 retail jobs and create over 1,300 construction and project delivery roles. The design pays homage to Kaurna heritage, incorporating elements tied to stories of Tarnda Kanya (Red Kangaroo Rock) and the Karrawirra Pari (River Torrens).
Premier Peter Malinauskas described the skyscraper as a transformative project that reflects Adelaide’s global ambitions, contrasting it with a previously proposed three-story scheme that was deemed to have limited economic benefit. Minister Nick Champion called the development a new benchmark for sustainable design, and a symbol of a confident, modern Adelaide.
Learn more at the Government of South Australia.