Competition to design new Perth university building

Murdoch University is seeking expressions of interest for a design competition for a new environmental education centre at its campus in Perth’s south.

The Harry Butler Environmental Education Centre will be the home of the Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University’s research centre that will explore the co-existence of economic development and protecting the natural environment. The Institute and building are named for Australian wildlife documentarian Harry Butler who was jointly named Australian of the Year in 1979 along with Neville Bonner.

The proposed centre “will bring together design excellence, sustainability and innovative technological outcomes, while paying homage to the 50,000-year historical, social and cultural importance of the area.”

The building will be the new focal point of, and form an entrance to, the campus. An “innovation hub,” it will bring together academia and industry to collaborate on projects relating to sustainable development and environmental management.

The Harry Butler Institute was established in August 2018 with partner Chevron and in April 2019, Murdoch University received $25 million grant from the federal government for the development of a new building.

The EOI process will be followed by a single stage design competition between shortlisted teams, with the winning design announced by mid-2020.

Entries are open to multidisciplinary teams that are led by an Australian architect and must contain at least one architect registered in WA.