Realm
South Australia
Sectors
Hospitality & Retail
Location
141 King William Street, Adelaide, SA
Date Completed
2024
Architect
Baukultur
Builder
BESIX Watpac
The GPO Marriott Hotel is a hospitality development in the heart of Adelaide, delivered with architect Baukultur and builder BESIX Watpac. Completed in 2024, the project called for a fully unitised curtain wall system built around a distinctive crucifix-shaped form, with curved, dish-shaped horizontal and vertical features running across the façade. Designing the system to hold its alignment through structural movement, while still allowing for the tolerances that movement demanded, was central to the build.
Challenges
The crucifix-shaped form, with its curved dish-shaped horizontal and vertical features, made alignment the defining challenge of this façade. The system needed to accommodate structural movement and installation tolerances while still holding a consistent, precise alignment across the curved surfaces, a balance that required careful design and coordination throughout.
Strategy
Our strategy was to build enough tolerance into the curtain wall system to absorb structural movement, without letting that tolerance compromise the alignment of the crucifix-shaped, curved façade. We worked through the geometry of the dish-shaped horizontal and vertical features in detail before manufacture, so alignment could be held consistently across every panel during installation.
The result was a curved, crucifix-shaped façade that held its alignment precisely, in the heart of Adelaide’s hospitality precinct.
