More than 700 of the state’s top adult health researchers will be housed in the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research (North). The 20,200 square meter 10 story building includes five levels of PC2 OGTR laboratory space with general and specialist support labs; imaging facilities; a bio resource facility; clinical research areas; offices, hot desks and workstations; seminar facilities; video conferencing facilities; 250 seat auditorium; informal and formal meeting spaces; quiet spaces; interaction areas; staff amenities; end of trip facilities; cafe; demonstration lab; community resource facility; exhibition gallery; and multi-media installations.
The Hames Sharley design team carried out extensive research around Australia and overseas, talking to building users and analyzing contemporary research practices. Recognizing that happy accident plays a vital role in research discoveries, the design of the Perkins Institute represents a radical departure from the established orthodoxy for laboratory buildings. The building is organized with a strong vertical integration and visual connection between research floors, and an innovative floor plate that maximizes collaboration and flexibility. Each lab floor accommodates 100 researchers, with interaction areas located centrally between the "wet" lab space and the "dry" office space, and the laboratories run north to south with natural light on two sides.