[5] The building is located in the heart of Colombo, in an area the Urban Development Authority plans to convert into a pedestrian-only promenade to facilitate the 40,000 sq ft (3,700 m2) high-street retail component being constructed at street level.

This fully-pedestrianised plaza will allow the annual Navam Perehera to pass through and will be fronted by both high street shopping as well as public kiosks, etc.

This allows maximum airflow and light which contributes to energy savings in heating and cooling and also provides access to the balcony.

The developers have also commissioned wind tunnel tests in Canada where intense studies were undertaken with 103 individual wind speed sensors placed on a 2-metre model of Altair with all relevant surrounding buildings and topography within a 480 m radius.

[7] Construction was halted for five years, and begun anew in 2020 after review of the project and resolution of some financial issues.