A $100-million high-rise 'vertical village' in Adelaide's CBD has officially opened its doors.
The 20-storey U City retirement living and mixed use facility, on the corner of Franklin and Pitt streets, includes six floors of 41 high-rise retirement living apartments with private balconies and expansive views.
Residents will also have access to an exclusive club lounge. The 21 platinum apartments and 18 accessible serviced apartments provide access to assistive technology to support independence.
The Uniting Communities' building also includes a specialist disability short stay accommodation facility and long-term rental accommodation for people living with a disability.
It also includes retail and office spaces, a 400 seat function centre and ground floor cafe and retail centre.
Uniting Communities' chief executive Simon Schrapel said the idea behind the inclusive design was the belief that a "genuine community can - and should - accommodate everyone".
"Why shouldn't long-term and short disability housing be available in the middle of a city's vibrancy," he said.
"Why couldn't retirement living also be offered in the same building close to the theatre precinct and the Central Markets? Why couldn't a development include all of this, plus premium office accommodation, first-class event spaces and exciting retail offerings? The short answer was, it could ... and U City does."
What's inside U City?
- Six floors of Australia's first high-rise, CBD retirement living and 41 apartments
- Adelaide's first purpose-built specialist disability accommodation with assistive technology in 21 one- and two-bedroom apartments
- A bespoke short-stay 'hotel' facility equipped for people living with a disability, incorporating 18 specialist one to three-bedroom apartments.
- A purpose-built function and conference facility with a fully serviced, commercial kitchen.
- New purpose-built service suites and clinics to accommodate Uniting Communities' range of social services.
- A range of community and consumer law services, a youth health medical clinic, allied health services, financial, personal and family counselling, mental health and alcohol and drug support services.
- Adelaide's first 24-hour Changing Place toilet and changing facilities.
- Electric vehicle charging points.
Designed by global architects Woods Bagot, and constructed by leading Australian construction group, Built, U City was recently announced as the joint winner of the Leading Housing Development Project Award at South Australia's 2019 Australasian Housing Institute (AHI) Professional Excellence in Housing Awards.
It has also been given a six-star green rating by the Green Building Council of Australia. Key design features leading to the rating including an embedded electricity network, 55-kilowatt solar system, cross ventilation through all living spaces, shading and double glazing to reduce heat load, water-efficient fixtures and fittings, bicycle racks, a community bus service and five electric charging stations.
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