Grenfell Centre

{{short description|High rise building in Adelaide, South Australia}} {{distinguish|text=[[Grenfell Tower]] in London}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2015}} {{Use Australian English|date=April 2015}} {{Infobox building | name = Grenfell Centre | native_name = | former_names = | alternate_names = Oracle House,<br />JLW Building,<br />Black Stump (nickname) | image = Adelaide Grenfell Centre.jpg | caption = | location = 25 [[Grenfell Street]], [[Adelaide]], [[South Australia]] | location_country = | construction_start_date = 1973 | completion_date = 1975 | inauguration_date = | demolished_date = | destruction_date = | architect = Cheesman Doley Neighbour & Raffen Hannaford, Pellew & Hodgkison | landlord = | cost = | floor_area = | top_floor = 26 | floor_count = 27 | awards = [[Royal Australian Institute of Architects]] Commercial Architecture Award of Commendation | references = | pushpin_map = | pushpin_map_alt = | map_caption = | building_type = | architectural_style = [[International Style (architecture)|International]] | structural_system = | client = | current_tenants = | renovation_date = 1979 | height = | tip = {{convert|114|m}} | elevator_count = 8 | architecture_firm = MPH Architects | structural_engineer = | services_engineer = | civil_engineer = | main_contractor = | url = | alt = | longs = | diameter = }} '''Grenfell Centre''', formerly known as '''Oracle House''' and '''JLW Building''', nicknamed '''Black Stump''', is a [[high rise]] office building located at 25 [[Grenfell Street]] in the [[Adelaide city centre]], [[South Australia]].

==History and description== {{anchor|Brookman}} [[File:Brookman Building 1907 B2983.jpg|thumb|left|Brookman Building(s), December 1907]] The Brookman Building(s),{{efn|Not to be confused with the present [[Brookman Building]].}} designed by [[Alfred Wells (architect)|Alfred Wells]] and built in 1897,<ref>{{cite web | title=Building Details | website=Architects of South Australia|publisher= [[University of South Australia]] | url=https://architectsdatabase.unisa.edu.au/build_full.asp?B_ID=306 | access-date=23 April 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Brookman Buildings, Grenfell Street | website=[[State Library of South Australia]]| format=photo & text | url=https://collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/resource/B+63824 | access-date=23 April 2023}}</ref> once stood on the site of the present Grenfell Centre.<ref>{{cite web | last=Ntafillis | first=Viki | title=Thebarton Police Barracks to join list of Adelaide architectural wonders that have disappeared | website=[[ABC News (Australia)]] | date=24 February 2023 | url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-02-25/buildings-of-adelaide-that-have-disappeared-like-police-barracks/101956678 | access-date=22 April 2023}}</ref> It was originally three storeys high, with an [[oriel window]] creating a fourth storey. In 1914, another two storeys were added. The building was owned by South Australian mining entrepreneurs [[George Brookman]] and his brother [[William Brookman]], who founded the Coolgardie Gold Mining and Prospecting Company in the [[Western Australian Goldfields|gold fields of Western Australia]].<ref>{{cite web | title=Brookman Building | website=Adelaide City Heritage | url=https://adelaideheritage.net.au/all-site-profiles/brookman-building/ | access-date=23 April 2023}}</ref> A [[Brookman Building|building of the same name]] still exists at the [[University of South Australia]]'s [[North Terrace, Adelaide|North Terrace]] campus, originally the [[South Australian School of Mines and Industries]].<ref name=expadl>{{cite web | title=Brookman Building, Grenfell Street, 1896 | website=Experience Adelaide | date=13 May 2020 | url=https://www.experienceadelaide.com.au/photo-library/old-buildings-of-adelaide/brookman-building-grenfell-street-1896/| publisher= [[National Trust of South Australia]] | access-date=23 April 2023}}</ref>

After the Brookman Building was demolished in the early 1970s,<ref name=expadl/> the new office tower was completed in 1973. It was the tallest building in [[Adelaide]]<ref name="emporis">{{cite web | title=Grenfell Centre | website=Emporis | date=11 May 2015 | url=http://www.emporis.com/buildings/108719/grenfell-centre-adelaide-australia | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150511124809/http://www.emporis.com/buildings/108719/grenfell-centre-adelaide-australia | archive-date=11 May 2015 | url-status=usurped | access-date=22 April 2023}}</ref> at {{convert|103|m|ft}},<ref name=list>{{cite web |url=https://www.emporis.com/statistics/tallest-buildings/city/100507/adelaide-australia|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150511134706/http://www.emporis.com/statistics/tallest-buildings/city/100507/adelaide-australia|url-status=usurped|archive-date=11 May 2015|title=Adelaide - Statistics|website= Emporis }}</ref> until surpassed by the [[Telstra House]]<ref name=list/> in 1987.<ref name="emporis"/>

The building has 26 floors. In the 1980s, the building's foyer and interior were refurbished. A {{convert|10|m|adj=on}} [[antenna (radio)| antenna]] was attached in 1980, and upgraded with digital transmitters in 2003, increasing the height a metre further.<ref name="emporis"/>

In 2007, the building was redeveloped, and two frameless glass cubes were constructed at the entrance of the building. This redevelopment earned it the [[Royal Australian Institute of Architects]] Commercial Architecture Award of Commendation.<ref name="aia">{{cite web|title=Grenfell Centre Upgrade|url=http://dynamic.architecture.com.au/awards_search?option=showaward&entryno=2008055662|website=Australian Institute of Architects|access-date=7 May 2016}}</ref>

Other names during its lifetime have been Oracle House and JLW Building. Its nickname, "[[black stump]]",<ref name="emporis"/> in reference to the building's appearance, is also a colloquial Australian phrase.

In October 2021 the Grenfell Centre was acquired by Centuria and MA Financial JV, at a purchase price of {{AUD}}166.6m. With a vacancy rate of 10%, the company planned to refurbish the building.<ref>{{cite web | title=Centuria and MA Financial acquire Adelaide’s The Black Stump | website=Centuria | date=6 December 2022 | url=https://centuria.com.au/news-and-media/centuria-and-ma-financial-jv-acquires-adelaides-the-black-stump/ | access-date=22 April 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last=Pallisco | first=Marc | title=Adelaide office collects $167m from Centuria, MA Financial | website=realestatesource.com.au | date=27 October 2021 | url=https://www.realestatesource.com.au/adelaide-office-collects-167m-from-centuria-ma-financial/ | access-date=22 April 2023}}</ref>

In February 2023, re-cladding of the building was complete, after works had been undertaken to replace the [[aluminium composite]] cladding (which had been implicated in the rapid spread of the fatal [[Grenfell Tower]] fire in [[London]], as well as other fires around the world<ref>{{cite web|title=Grenfell Tower inquiry: the chair's findings so far|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/oct/30/grenfell-tower-inquiry-chair-findings-so-far-firefighters |work= [[The Guardian]]| first1=Robert|last1=Booth |first2= Owen |last2= Bowcott|date=30 October 2019| access-date=22 April 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Cladding in London high-rise fire also blamed for 2014 Melbourne blaze |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/jun/15/cladding-in-2014-melbourne-high-rise-blaze-also-used-in-grenfell-tower|date= 2017-06-15|last=Wahlquist |first= Calla |work=[[The Guardian]]| access-date=22 April 2023}}</ref>) with solid {{cvt|3|mm}} aluminium cladding. The project included extra insulation behind the cladding.<ref>{{cite web | title=Project Update: 25 Grenfell Street Recladding, SA | website=Hindmarsh | date=16 February 2023 | url=https://hindmarsh.com.au/project-update-25-grenfell-street-recladding-sa/ | access-date=22 April 2023}}</ref>

== See also == * [[List of tallest buildings in Adelaide]]

==Footnotes== {{notelist}}

==References== {{reflist}}

[[Category:Buildings and structures in Adelaide]] [[Category:Skyscraper office buildings in Adelaide]] [[Category:Office buildings completed in 1973]] [[Category:International Style architecture in Australia]]