[6] Hodder had 11 weeks to finish the design stage and begin development on site in order to ensure the European Union grant was eligible[7] and it was built for less than £4 million.

[8] The building consists of two separate glazed structures set as a frame to an informal galleried atrium, with service towers, studio and seminar accommodation are housed within a four-storey orthogonal block on the "City side" of the development.

[9] The building was designed without air conditioning, instead relying on a natural ventilation system and underfloor heating which were hallmarks of its environmentally-friendly construction.

Previous proposals to repurpose the building had not progressed, and the application aims to protect it amid the ongoing redevelopment of the surrounding area.

[13][14] In its rationale for the decision to demolish the building, the university has said the "ageing infrastructure means it no longer meets modern standards and requirements."

[18] Dr. Carole O'Reilly, a senior lecturer at Salford University,[19] acknowledged the building's architectural significance but suggests that its failure to meet current needs might justify its demolition.