The complex consists of a ten storey central block sitting on a podium of workshops and a three storey block with a single storey link between them. The ten storey block is highly visible from many vantage points across the city and the external refurbishment is designed to respect that prominence to provide a positive image for the college. A horizontal emphasis of both ribbon glazing and cladding panels is intended to enhance the building's impression of anchorage to the site. BPA received a commendation from Aberdeen Civic Society for this project in 2015.