Forming part of the gateway to the precinct of Lot 14 facing North Terrace the Bice Building stands as a highly valued heritage building on the edge of one of Adelaide’s most exciting new precincts.

The four-storey Bice Building, completed in 1927, was built as part of the 1921 masterplan for the former Royal Adelaide Hospital. In its earlier life the building housed a mix of accommodation for doctors and medical officers, patient wards with open-air balconies and administration offices.

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Adaptive re-use of the building into a high performing creative and collaborative workplace was the challenge. Ultimately creating a welcoming destination for businesses who want to re-think the way they operate and work alongside others with the same mind-set.

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Our approach was to work collaborative with the heritage consultants to ensure that all works complied with their advice and celebrate all that the building was. A significant component of the building upgrade was the re-working of the building’s wet areas. The team used it as an opportunity to to provide extra structural support through the four floor levels.

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Our consistent strategy was that where architectural intervention was required we ensured that the distinction between old and new was clear. Connected to the eastern facade a sleek black glass box will attach lightly to the side of the building enabling an increase in the floor plate.

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With commerciality being critical to the success of the project optimising the size and flexibility of the floor plates was a design driver resulting in base building spaces which can be transformed into innovative, collaborative workspaces.

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Elements in the base building which we celebrated and enhanced were the east / west cross view axis and connection, the eastern and western verandahs and the balcony overlooking North Terrace with views to the south eastern Adelaide Hills.

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While the building is still in construction we are confident that the end result will do justice to the heritage of the building and the precinct creating a vibrant series of workplaces of distinction.

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Client
Renewal SA

Location
Lot Fourteen, Adelaide
South Australia

Completion date
June 2021