On 22 May 1895, the contract to construct Perth Boys' and Girls' Schools building in James Street was awarded to William Atkins for the sum of £10,452,[5] equivalent to A$1.9 million in 2022.

On 18 January 1897, the new Perth Boys' and Girls' School building, which had been completed a few months earlier, was officially opened by Edward Wittenoom, the Minister for Education.

[6][9] In the following years, a number of minor changes were made to the building, including electrical connections and installation of gas heating.

The physical evidence confirms that main boys' and girls' entries were given particular emphasis in their level of detailing, but that the building was clearly designed to be seen in the round.

The external walls are constructed of face brick in stretcher bond, with a random stone plinth below ground floor level.

The building has a corrugated iron, hipped roof with a raised section over the central gallery space.

)[7] The current interiors have a blend of original detailing with clearly contrasting modern adaptations and fixtures dating from the early 1990s conversion of the building to a contemporary arts centre.

Some of the key features of the recent works include: the introduction of direct access to the ground floor of James Street; a large new reception area off this entry; a functional timber and steel stair within the reception area; large plain openings through former classroom walls; the creation of an open, ground floor performance space at the western end; the use of exposed steel trusses to support the gallery over the performance space; and the creation of a cafe within two former ground floor classrooms at the north-eastern corner of the building.

[1] It began operating from the James Street building in 1988 with the main aim of promoting contemporary art (visual, performing or mixed) in Western Australia.