Water is the defining characteristic of the site. Simply stated, this design is a metaphor of the site. Like the River Liffey, which flows by, submerging and uncovering the piers and docks with tidal regularity, this building both disappears and emerges from itself.

The two towers, or piers, contain the main vertical circulation and building systems. Sheathed in Corten steel they are reminiscent of the site's rusted, maritime past. The undulating horizontal glass and steel façade house the specific program requirements while furthering the image of the Docklands washed by the river.

Of cities developed around bodies of water or rivers, the greatest are those that invite pedestrian access to its shores. One think only of strolling along the Thames, Seine, or Tiber, to know that these cities, and ones like them, offer something unique and essential to the public realm. Lifting the main building mass above the ground plane not only eliminates an obstruction to the water's edge, but also extends the planned public space of the adjacent Campshires. Additionally, the amenities of restaurant, café and outdoor dining on the open plaza encourage public interaction. By leaving the ground plane open the site becomes firmly woven into the public realm, while once again extending the metaphor of floatation.