Hames Sharley

Hames Sharley
Name	Hames Sharley
Type	Private
Industry	Architecture and Design
Founded	1975
Headquarters	Perth, Western Australia
Key people	Paul Worley; Mark O’Neill; Michael Wood (example)
Products	Master planning; Urban design; Interior design; Landscape architecture

Hames Sharley

Hames Sharley is an Australian multidisciplinary design, architecture, and planning practice with headquarters in Perth, Western Australia, and offices in major Australian cities. The firm operates across commercial, residential, health, education, retail, and urban precinct projects, engaging with clients such as municipal councils, property developers, health networks, and educational institutions. Hames Sharley’s work intersects with contemporary practices exemplified by firms like Fender Katsalidis, WOHA Architects, Zaha Hadid Architects, Hassell, and HDR, Inc. while responding to contexts familiar to organizations such as City of Perth, Western Australian Planning Commission, Department of Health (Western Australia), and major developers like Lendlease and Probuild.

History

Founded in 1975 in Perth during a period of significant development in Western Australia associated with the resources boom and projects led by entities like BHP and Rio Tinto, the practice grew from a regional studio into a national consultancy. Early commissions placed the firm alongside contemporaries such as Denton Corker Marshall and Woods Bagot, aligning Hames Sharley with state projects, private commissions, and civic works in municipalities like City of Stirling and City of Fremantle. Through the 1980s and 1990s the firm expanded services, collaborating with institutions including University of Western Australia, Curtin University, and health providers modelled on systems like NHS-style public health frameworks. In the 2000s and 2010s Hames Sharley opened additional offices and participated in masterplans for precincts influenced by projects such as Elizabeth Quay and partnerships with developers akin to Mirvac and Westfield Corporation.

Services and Practice Areas

Hames Sharley provides architecture, interior design, urban design, landscape architecture, and project management services serving sectors comparable to those served by Multiplex, John Holland, and Stockland. The firm undertakes master planning for precincts similar to Barangaroo and engages in healthcare projects in collaboration with organizations like St John of God Health Care and Ramsay Health Care. Education projects connect the practice to institutions such as Murdoch University and Edith Cowan University, while retail precinct work places it in the orbit of retail landlords like Vicinity Centres and agencies such as WA Health. The studio’s capability in workplace design aligns with global trends set by firms like Gensler and Perkins+Will, and its landscape work draws parallels to projects by Grant Associates and Taylor Cullity Lethlean.

Notable Projects

Projects attributed to the practice span civic, commercial, residential, and health typologies, comparable in profile to works by Cox Architecture and Bates Smart. Examples include civic precincts and town-centre masterplans resonant with initiatives by City of Stirling and City of Swan, metropolitan mixed-use developments reflecting approaches seen at Southbank (Melbourne) and urban renewal projects analogous to Docklands (Melbourne). The firm has been engaged on education campus buildings similar to commissions at University of Melbourne and health campus expansions resembling projects at Royal Perth Hospital and Fiona Stanley Hospital. Retail and mixed-use centre projects demonstrate programmatic complexity comparable to Perth Arena-adjacent precincts and large suburban centres developed by companies like Stockland.

Awards and Recognition

Hames Sharley and its projects have been recognized within professional award frameworks comparable to those administered by the Australian Institute of Architects, Planning Institute of Australia, and state peak bodies such as the Master Builders Association (Western Australia). Project awards and commendations align with categories similar to Urban Design Awards and National Architecture Awards while individual staff have been acknowledged in registers akin to the WA Directory of Architects and industry leadership listings. Peer recognition situates the firm among established practices like Grimshaw and BVN for contributions to built-form excellence and precinct planning.

Corporate Structure and Leadership

The firm operates as a privately held design consultancy with a leadership structure comprising directors, studio principals, and discipline leaders, paralleling governance frameworks found at firms such as Hassell and Cox Architecture. Senior leadership has included directors experienced in practice management, commercial delivery, and design leadership, cooperating with project teams across offices in states comparable to New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland. The organisational model supports alliances with contractors like Multiplex and consultants including engineering firms similar to Arup and WSP Global for integrated project delivery.

Community Engagement and Sustainability

Hames Sharley participates in community engagement processes aligned with methodologies used by leading practices during consultations with stakeholders such as local councils, indigenous groups like those represented by Noongar organisations, and community development bodies similar to Community Housing Limited. Sustainability commitments reflect benchmarking against standards and certifications such as Green Star, Living Building Challenge, and frameworks applied by entities like Australian Building Codes Board, with projects pursuing energy efficiency, passive design, and landscape resilience in dialogue with environmental consultancies and regulators. Community arts, placemaking, and public realm initiatives position the practice in collaborative networks with cultural institutions like WA Museum and regional development agencies akin to Regional Development Australia.

Category:Architecture firms of Australia