Education Minister Susan Close today revealed concept design images of the $100 million Frome Road school abutting the Botanic Gardens parklands, forecast to open for term one, 2019.

The design will repurpose the existing Reid Building, currently occupied by the University of South Australia, and link it via a glass atrium to a newly-built six-storey building – two stories higher than originally envisaged – with a rooftop terrace.

“Given the site has the capacity to hold 1250 kids rather than [the originally anticipated] 1000, we are going to put in extra money and build it to that capacity,” said Close.

“It was a decision that needed to be made now or never.”

The atrium joining the two buildings.

Close said while the design was a first for an SA school, there would be “constraints when you’re dealing with a vertical school in the middle of the city”.

“[This is] a school that requires lifts… we’ll have to negotiate with Adelaide University on the use of sporting fields [and] this CBD high school will absolutely be dependent on good public transport,” she said.

The school – which will incorporate “food technology kitchens” and “maker spaces” for students to explore art, design and media studies – will begin in 2019 with an initial intake of Years 8 and 9 and build from there.

“It’s designed with the teaching of students in mind,” said Close.

“It’s going to be one of the leading schools in Australia when it’s completed.”

The existing Reid Building. Photo: Tony Lewis / InDaily

It’s still unclear from where the students will come, with discussions ongoing about how they will be divided between the new campus and the existing Adelaide High School.

Despite a limited footprint, Close insists “we’re not planning to expand into the parklands at all”.

The designs are the result of a partnership between local firm Cox Architecture and DesignInc, TCL, AECOM and KBR.

Construction is set to begin in December.