Hines Property takes student accommodation to new heights
A new $85 million student accommodation tower in the Adelaide CBD is set to become the tallest purpose-built student-only accommodation building in the world.
A planning application has been lodged by developer Hines Property for a 124.2-metre-tall tower on a site it owns at 29 Twin Street between Grenfell Street and Rundle Mall.
The world’s tallest student accommodation building is currently the Student One Wharf Street tower in Brisbane, scaling 122 metres. The next tallest student tower, in Manchester, stands at 109 metres.
Hines Property, which has several towers in Adelaide, has planned the 38-storey solely student-use development with architecture firm Woods Bagot in response to significant demand for modern, purpose-built student accommodation.
Established in 2003, privately-owned Hines Property develops high-rise residential, office, hotel and mixed-use projects, and is the largest owner of hotel accommodation in Adelaide, with more than 600 hotel rooms in its portfolio.
Managing director James Hines says his team has drawn on its expertise in hotel and residential developments to design a “world-class, purpose-built student accommodation tower” that will feature “highly considered amenities underpinned by a professional management team”.
More than 10,000 international and interstate students are enrolled at Adelaide universities.
The site’s prime location will appeal to students, and the development will be “great news” for the local economy, Hines adds.
Associate principal at Woods Bagot, Alex Hall, says a “slender tower” suits the site dimensions.
“A three-level lobby void will respect and respond to the adjoining Gays Arcade whilst creating a transparent, somewhat floating podium for the tower,” Hall explains.
The building will include single studio rooms through to five and six-bedroom apartments, incorporating a total of 510 beds.
In addition to the ground floor lobby and café, the tower will feature a communal mezzanine lounge, cinema and events space, study and dining area, garden retreat and rooftop lawn, gym, wellness and yoga space, which will maximise views of the city and Adelaide Hills.
“Even the laundry facilities have been considered as a meeting place for occupants whilst they wait,” Hall adds.
“Rather than hide the laundry, it is instead featured on level 17 in a prime north facing space. The machines will be integrated with the interior design of the area rather than being the sole purpose of this space.”
Construction of the 29 Twin Street project is expected to commence next year and will take 18 months to complete.
