The new building is placed on the southern part of the site overlooking the Shannon and establishing a strong connection with the planned eco-bridge and the rest of the campus. A new landscaped pedestrian space defines the entrances to the new building and to the Nursing Studies building, and establishes the character of the public realm for this part of the university.

The project seeks to engage with the topography of the site by not simply accepting the required flood level as a datum, but instead by using the building to make this geographical change. The building, therefore, becomes a retaining structure that also allows the existing landscape to penetrate in different ways. The landscape cuts into the plan beside the foyer, connecting the interior to the natural surroundings. When flooding occurs, the water will reflect the sunlight onto the underside of the roof, creating a special dancing light throughout the interior.