What Perkins Architects does

Perkins Architects is a privately held, Melbourne-based architectural practice founded in 1987 by Ian Perkins and currently led by Directors Kylie Freeman and Darren Johns. The firm operates from a single office in Kensington, Victoria, with a team of approximately 12-20 staff including three associates, two architects, and a graduate of architecture. Its core services span architecture, interior design, master planning, town planning, project management, construction-phase administration, and environmentally sustainable design (ESD), with particular specialisation in Passive House design and Green Star certification.

The firm's commercial portfolio is anchored in publicly funded educational and community infrastructure for clients including the Victorian School Building Authority (VSBA), City of Greater Geelong, City of Ballarat, and the Royal Children's Hospital, with documented individual project construction values ranging from $700,000 to $28 million. Secondary verticals include early childhood and childcare facilities, multi-residential developments (ALIA Apartments, Hudson Green), eco-tourism accommodation (YHA Grampians and YHA Apollo Bay hostels), and bespoke residential commissions. The practice has accumulated multiple 5-Star Green Star Design certifications and Ecotourism Australia certifications, positioning sustainability as a primary technical differentiator.

Revenue is generated through project-based professional services fees tied to construction value, with no disclosed pricing schedules and no external investment or institutional ownership. Work is sourced through direct engagement, government tender processes (notably the ongoing Modular Kinders and KOSS program), and a long-tenured consultant referral network spanning engineering, landscape architecture, and construction partners. Geographic operations are concentrated in Victoria, spanning metropolitan Melbourne and regional centres including Ballarat, Greater Geelong, Colac, and the Mornington Peninsula.

Name

Perkins Architects

Legal name

Perkins Architects

Website

https://perkinsarchitects.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Perkins Architects is a Melbourne-based architectural practice founded in 1987, delivering architecture, interior design, master planning, and Passive House-certified sustainable design across education, community, residential, and tourism sectors, primarily for Victorian government clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (541310), Interior Design Services (54141)

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Architectural Reconfiguration & Structural Alterations (HSAPAEAB)

Keywords

• Architectural design services
• Sustainable architecture
• Passive house design
• Master planning services
• Educational facility design

Headquarters

HQ city

Prahran

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Architectural Design Services: Professional architectural services for educational, residential, commercial and community projects. Revenue generated through project-based fees for architecture, interior design, master planning, town planning, project management, and construction services. Projects range from modest alterations to major developments over $25 million.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Perkins Architects is an architectural practice delivering architecture, interior design, master planning, town planning, project management, construction services and ESD advisory across educational, community, residential, tourism and commercial projects. The firm holds certified Passive House expertise and integrates Passivhaus, Green Star, NABERS and BESS standards into all designs. Projects range from modest alterations and renovations to major developments over $25 million.

Product overview

Perkins Architects is an architectural and design services practice offering a comprehensive suite of services including architecture, interior design, master planning, town planning, project management, construction services, and environmentally sustainable design (ESD). The practice works on educational, residential, commercial and community projects, with specialist expertise in Passive House design. Their core architecture service delivers distinctive, sustainable buildings for childcare, education, residential, commercial and civic projects, complemented by interior design services, strategic masterplanning, town planning advisory, project management, and construction-phase support. ESD services integrate Passivhaus, Green Star, NABERS and BESS tools into all projects. The portfolio spans diverse project categories including commercial (community, education, early education & childcare, tourism, greenstar & ESD, multi-residential) and residential (houses, multi-residential).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architecture Services Full architectural design services for childcare, education, residential, commercial and civic projects, balancing best practice design principles, creativity and practicality across nearly 40 years of practice.
• Interior Design Interior design services creating bright, welcoming spaces for residential, education, community and workplace interiors that reflect clients' aims and aspirations through a human-centred approach.
• Master Planning Strategic masterplanning services at all scales, with context-led processes to identify opportunities, assess feasibility and optimise staging strategies for high-value outcomes across education, community and residential projects.
• Town Planning Strategic planning advice ensuring compliance with local planning schemes, with VCAT representation support where required to navigate regulatory processes and secure smooth approvals.
• Project Management Hands-on construction project management services coordinating consultants, maintaining timelines and keeping stakeholders informed through to project completion.
• Construction Services Construction-phase services including contract administration, superintendency and post-occupancy evaluations to review building performance and inform future improvements.
• Environmentally Sustainable Design (ESD) Environmentally sustainable design strategies integrating Passivhaus, Green Star, NABERS and BESS standards into all designs, prioritising environmental performance, energy efficiency and occupant wellbeing.
• Passive House Design Certified Passive House architects specialising in designing sustainable, energy-efficient homes that combine high-performance design, airtight construction, thermal bridge-free detailing and heat recovery ventilation with design sensibility and lasting character.

Quantifiable outcome

• Energy efficient homes reducing heating and cooling costs significantly while providing stable temperatures and continuous fresh filtered air
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Adams Consulting EngineerscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Structural/Civil engineering partner on multiple education and community projects including Lake Colac School ($21.1m). Provides structural and civil engineering services for complex educational facility projects.
• NSIENT Consulting EngineerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerServices engineering partner on Bella Wiyn Birralee Family Centre and multiple other projects. Provides specialist engineering consulting for community and educational facilities.
• Lyons ConstructioncoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBuilder/construction partner on Bella Wiyn Birralee Family Centre ($13.32m). Delivers purpose-built community facilities with sustainable design requirements.
• Blue Landscape ArchitectscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLandscape architecture partner on Lake Colac School and other major projects. Provides landscape design that enhances outdoor learning and community spaces.
• BDH ConstructionscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBuilder on Lake Colac School project ($21.1m). Delivered heritage refurbishment alongside new purpose-built educational facilities.
• NJM Design Consulting EngineerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-disciplinary engineering consultancy partner on Ivanhoe Townhouses and multiple regional projects. Provides structural/civil/mechanical/electrical/plumbing engineering services.
• Meinhardt AustraliacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngineering consultancy on Banmira Specialist School ($28m). Provides specialist engineering services for large-scale educational facility redevelopment.
• StanteccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngineering and design consultancy partner on Djila-tjarriu Community Hub ($7.6m). Provides multidisciplinary engineering services for community infrastructure.
• Dan FarrarminorOthersProfessional photographer documenting completed projects including Lake Colac School and Djila-tjarriu Community Hub for portfolio and marketing purposes.
• The Mighty WontonminorOthersWebsite development partner providing WordPress theme development and digital presence for Perkins Architects website.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Austin Maynard Architects: Melbourne practice with comparable size, sustainability ethos, and design-led residential and small civic portfolio. Strongly comparable on design philosophy and mid-size boutique positioning, with overlapping sustainable design credentials.
• DKO Architecture: Melbourne-headquartered design practice working across residential, multi-residential, and community projects at similar scale. Overlaps in typology and Victorian base makes it a strong comparable for project type and fee structure.
• Kennedy Nolan: Melbourne architectural practice of similar size with strong residential and multi-residential portfolio plus select civic work. Comparable in design-led positioning and project typology mix relevant to Perkins' residential and community offerings.
• Breathe Architecture: Melbourne-based practice known for sustainable and Passive House residential design, with similar mid-size footprint and overlapping expertise in high-performance, environmentally certified architecture for private and small commercial clients.
• Jackson Clements Burrows (JCB): Melbourne-based mid-size architectural practice with a comparable portfolio spanning education, residential, and community projects. Highly similar in scale, design sensibility, and Victorian geographic focus, making it the most direct peer for Perkins.
• Clare Cousins Architects: Melbourne-based residential and small civic architecture practice of similar scale. Comparable on typology and design-led approach, with overlap on residential and bespoke project work relevant to Perkins' residential segment.

Broad incumbents

• Grimshaw Architects: International architectural firm with significant Australian education and transport infrastructure portfolio. Larger incumbent competing for major Victorian government projects in education and civic sectors where Perkins operates.
• Bates Smart: One of Australia's oldest and largest architectural practices with broad education, civic, and residential portfolio. Competes with Perkins on larger-scale Victorian government commissions but at much greater scale and geographic reach.
• ARM Architecture: Larger Melbourne-headquartered practice with extensive portfolio across cultural, civic, education, and residential projects. Broader scale and capacity but operates in the same Victorian architectural market with overlapping education and community typologies.
• HASSELL: Major Australian architecture firm with significant education, civic, and community portfolio nationally. Larger scale incumbent competing for the same Victorian government tenders but with broader geographic reach and multidisciplinary capacity Perkins lacks.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/perkins-architects

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Perkins Architects