The project does much to improve the urban realm of the City of London. It evolved to allow the creation of a new public space connecting Wood Street and Aldermanbury Square to the upper level of the Barbican High Walk. The new 18-storey building sits above this public space and consists of two staggered wings that are divided by a receding central section. The two entrances are linked by a triple height ground floor reception , with a sloping floor which drops a metre from north to south. The external frame and facades are formed in shot-peened stainless steel cladding, and are arranged in double and, immediately above the base, triple height bays giving a strong sense of verticality to the elevations.