Designs released for world’s tallest timber hotel tower

28 July 2022

David Rowlinson

Cox Architecture has designed a tower in Adelaide’s city centre set to become the world’s tallest timber hotel. To be located at 187 Victoria Square, the proposed tower will sit behind and on top of the existing building also known as Beacon House, which has been described as Adelaide’s first post-war skyscraper.

Covering 31 storeys and rising 100 metres above the ground, the tower will accommodate 324 hotel rooms, 22 apartments, a “sky terrace” on the twelfth level, and a rooftop bar. It will be built out of cross-laminated timber – a product that is 25 percent of the weight of traditional building materials – and green steel. Developer Thrive Construct said it worked with the architect to develop a structure that is entirely carbon neutral and constructed from renewable, Australian-supplied plantation pine and green steel.

Plans involve the prefabrication of the cross-laminated timber offsite, which will be delivered in modules for later onsite assemblage.

Thrive Construct said it will be selecting a preferred hotelier to target a “millennial market” once the tower is open in 2024.

Article first appeared in Architecture Australia

David Rowlinson

David hails from Lancashire, England and has lived in Australia since 1994. He studied Architecture at Sheffield University and also has an MBA from Macquarie University and a Master of Marketing from UNSW. Prior to joining Planet Ark in 2016 David was Marketing Manager then CEO of a major Sydney-based manufacturer of modular carpets used in all commercial building applications. His proudest achievement was the development of an industry-leading environmental sustainability agenda, including the unique Earthplus product reuse program.