PBSA Highrise Greenlit for Adelaide Church Carpark

The City of Churches will gain a substantial student living asset after the $400-million highrise won approval from the State Commission Assessment Panel. 

The 33-storey tower will rise behind Adelaide’s oldest church, the Holy Trinity Church, at North Terrace.

It will comprise 1002 rooms in a mix of studio, shared and premium configurations and be developed by 1835 Property.

The plan for the Trinity Church property at 88 North Terrace was supported by Adelaide University, a merger of the University of Adelaide and UniSA.

The plans include upgrades across the church landholding and new ministry and administration facilities designed by GHD Design and Brown Falconer. 

There will also be “best in class” features for the students including a cinema, gym, yoga studio, study zones, social lounges, a communal kitchen, dining spaces, cafe and public piazza.

Construction on the site opposite Adelaide Convention Centre is expected to begin in January and take a little more than two years to complete.

The PBSA sector in SA is on the rise with 3121 student beds either in construction, planning or approved as applications ramp up in Adelaide, according to an Urbis benchmark report from March. 

▲ A rendering of the Holy Trinity Church, built in 1836, and the 33-storey student tower.

Premier Susan Close said the Trinity Church project would contribute significantly to revitalising the city’s western precinct.

“This landmark development marks a transformative moment for Adelaide’s city centre and for the thousands of students who will call it home,” Close said.

Trinity Church Adelaide senior pastor Paul Harrington said the plans were the next phase of the 186-year-old Holy Trinity Church’s life.

“This development will place us at the heart of a vibrant university precinct as well as provide an opportunity to redeploy some of our resources into the growing network of churches we have across metropolitan Adelaide and regional South Australia,” Harrington said.