Perimeter institute building view from the parking lot

Contact us

Perimeter Institute is located in the heart of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, approximately one hour southwest of Toronto. The centre is steps away from Waterloo Park and Uptown Waterloo’s plentiful restaurants, shops and cafés, as well as a 10-minute walk from the University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University.

General inquiries

General inquiries can be made Monday through Friday, between 8:30 am and 5:00 pm at:
31 Caroline Street North,
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, N2L 2Y5
Tel: (+1) 519-569-7600  Fax: (+1) 519-569-7611

Contact Us

Ticket office

Ticket inquiries can be online at [email protected].

Public tours

Perimeter Institute is a quiet research and training environment. As such, general public visits are coordinated in conjunction with scheduled and ticketed outreach activities – such as public lectures, festivals, open house tours, exhibits, occasional webcast events, and cultural activities. Sign up for email updates on future public events.

Directions

You can find Perimeter Institute on Google Maps.  Located at 31 Caroline Street North, Waterloo, ON, N2L 2Y5

If you are coming to Perimeter from Highway 401 (east or west), follow these directions:

  1. Exit 278 (Highway 8 West) and follow 8 West for 5 km to Highway #85, towards #7 East.
  2. Proceed on Highway #85 for approx. 6 km to BRIDGEPORT ROAD W. exit. Turn right at the off-ramp, traveling West.
  3. Bridgeport is a four-lane one-way road. Follow Bridgeport for 2.8 km. 
  4. Continue on Bridgeport past ALBERT Street.  Note that Bridgeport Road becomes CAROLINE Street N. past Albert Street. 
  5. Travel forward another 200 meters, but ease over into the right hand lane. As you go down a hill and around a curve, look for the Perimeter Institute sign on the right hand side. The parking lot entrance is just after the sign (past the historic Grist Mill that sits on the edge of Silver Lake - Waterloo Park).
  6. Turn right into the Perimeter parking lot entrance. The building features a strikingly modern design that stands out against its park setting located behind the Clay and Glass Gallery

Parking

Monday to Friday 8 am to 6 pm (excluding statutory holiday)

  • For less than two hours: Please park in the first row of Perimeter’s main parking lot or in the City of Waterloo’s Museum lot next door, accessible from Father David Bauer Drive.
  • For more than two hours: Please park in Perimeter’s main parking lot in any row but the first. You will need to request a temporary parking permit from our security desk in front reception. Please have your licence plate number on hand.

After hours: Permits are not required.  Please consult posted signs from the City of Waterloo.

The Perimeter parking lot is owned by the City of Waterloo and Perimeter cannot be held responsible for any parking fines or loss/damages to your property in this lot.

Closures

Perimeter Institute observes statutory holidays and Christmas holiday periods. Dates include:

  • January 1 (every year) – New Year’s Day
  • February (third Monday every year) – Ontario Family Day
  • The Friday before Easter Sunday (every year) – Good Friday
  • May (Monday preceding May 25 every year) – Victoria Day
  • July 1 (every year) – Canada Day
  • August (first Monday in August every year) – Ontario Civic Holiday
  • September (first Monday in September every year) – Labour Day
  • October (second Monday in October every year) – Thanksgiving Day
  • December 25 (every year) – Christmas Day
  • December 26 (every year) – Boxing Day

Should you foresee any needs in advance of holiday periods, please contact Perimeter Institute well ahead of time.