A new outdoor plaza at Renewal SA’s Tonsley Innovation District will connect the precinct’s main business and residential areas with a new commercial, retail and leisure precinct.

The plaza, which is yet to be named, will adjoin existing public space at the western edge of the Main Assembly Building (MAB), stretching 125 metres to nearby MAB Circuit, the main ring road around the precinct.

The new area will extend between Otello’s recently announced Level Eleven health and wellness centre and broader retail precinct to the south, and the future Boiler House development to the north.

Andy Nicolson, Renewal SA’s Senior Development Manager overseeing the project aimed to increase public amenity and better integrate the growing residential precinct at Tonsley with the established and expanding business precinct.

South Australian landscaper LCS Group, which delivered the $2.7 million streetscaping project at Tonsley in 2019, will lead delivery of the plaza, with work now underway and expected to take about three months.

Designed by South Australian landscape architects Oxigen, the plaza includes paved pedestrian footpaths, raised planter beds, irrigation and lighting, and over 760 new plants and trees.

Last year, PEET, which is leading the residential component of Tonsley Village, also completed delivery of a large central reserve known as Village Green, spanning 6,773 square metres.

Mr Nicolson said these facilities supported continued growth and development.

“There are several large-scale residential and commercial developments progressing at Tonsley, with several key projects set to finish in the next 12 months,” he said.

“These public spaces support that growth.”

Otello’s three-storey health and fitness, commercial and retail precinct is expected to finish in spring, while next door, Junction’s second stage of Thrive, an affordable rental apartment development, will be complete early next year.

Directly across the road, construction is progressing on 80 residential apartments delivered by PEET across two towers, known as Neon.

One tower is expected to be complete in early 2027, while the second will finish toward the end of 2027.

PEET State Manager Mark Devine said he was pleased with how the community was taking shape.

“As we reach the final stages of delivering homes at Tonsley, we are pleased to see our vision come to fruition, connecting high quality living with lifestyle, health facilities, leisure and job opportunities,” Mr Devine said.

About 570 homes have been completed in the precinct since the residential area began in 2018, with approximately 1000 homes targeted by 2028.

More broadly, there are currently more than 150 businesses operating at the Tonsley Innovation District, employing more than 2000 people. Flinders University, TAFE SA and Tonsley Technical College together host about 8500 students.