The new customer facing building for the Royal Bank of Scotland sits on the site formerly occupied by Northcliffe House, within the Deansgate/Peter Street Conservation Area, facing the Grade I listed John Rylands Library. The brief was very simple: to create an efficient, flexible, 12,000m2 office building to meet institutional standards, and to create a dramatic presence in and impact on the Manchester cityscape. The building should reflect RBS brand aspirations, including those of a responsive and responsible environmental strategy.