The design takes precedent from the traditional Glasgow courtyard block, with the Garth Street façade maintaining existing building lines and a functional façade addressing the public street. The courtyard façade is more relaxed in its treatment, taking advantage of south light pushing out and pulling in from the existing footprint. To provide sun shading and prevent overheating the courtyard façade has an outer skin of timber louvers. A textured wall of vertical concrete panels wraps around the service core giving a heavy appearance to the end of the building. The vertical circulation wraps up, around and through a thick inhabited wall, providing the backbone to the building and also acts as a buffer between rooms and service accommodation. The assembly room and Donald Dewar library are raised off the ground and given more prominence. Elevating the key spaces provides the passer by a rare visual link with the landscaped courtyard space. At night, the assembly room glows like a lantern, illuminating Garth Street, whilst signifying its public function and importance to the rest of the city.