# City of Perth Library | Attribute | Detail | |---|---| | Architect | [[Kerry Hill Architects]] | | Location | Hay Street, Perth CBD, WA (adjacent to Perth Town Hall) | | Completed | 1 March 2016 | | Cost | AUD $60 million | | Type | Public library, 7 floors | | Form | Truncated cylinder, glazed perimeter, stone-clad columns | ![[City of Perth Library/perth-library-01.jpg]] ![[City of Perth Library/perth-library-02.jpg]] ![[City of Perth Library/perth-library-03.jpg]] ![[City of Perth Library/perth-library-04.jpg]] ![[City of Perth Library/perth-library-05.jpg]] ![[City of Perth Library/perth-library-06-stairs.jpg]] ## About The City of Perth Library was the first major civic building in Perth in approximately 50 years — a fact that underscores its cultural weight. KHA won an international competition for the site, which is hemmed between some of Perth's finest heritage: the Old Perth Town Hall, Treasury Buildings, and St George's Cathedral. The **truncated cylinder** form is not purely formal — its chiselled profile is generated by solar angles, ensuring winter light reaches the adjacent cathedral's public lawn terrace. Internally, principal circulation is pushed to the glazed perimeter, allowing occupants on every level to circumnavigate the collection with views of the city and heritage neighbours. A central spiralling staircase rises through all seven floors. A skylit atrium, indoor roof garden, and outdoor reading terrace complete the public section. The design won immediate critical recognition as a confident, lasting contribution to the Perth public realm. > *"Truncated, cylindrical form… bold and timeless, earning it a place among some of Perth's finest heritage buildings."* — AIA National Architecture Awards citation, 2016 ## Awards - **2016** — George Temple Poole Award (WA Architecture Awards) — joint winner - **2016** — AIA National Architecture Award: Public Architecture — Commendation - **2016** — Singapore Architects Awards — Honourable Mention ## Reviews & Further Reading - [City of Perth Library — ArchitectureAu (2016 National Awards)](https://architectureau.com/articles/2016-national-architecture-awards-public-commendation/) - [Kerry Hill designs Perth library — Architecture & Design](https://www.architectureanddesign.com.au/editorial/industry-news/kerry-hill-designs-perth-library-first-civic-build) - [City of Perth Library — Arch Journey](https://archjourney.org/projects/city-of-perth-library/) - [City of Perth Library — Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_of_Perth_Library) - [In-depth photos — Vincent Loy](https://vincentloy.wordpress.com/2016/03/28/city-of-perth-library-by-kerry-hill-architects/)