Located to the north of the City Centre opposite the Vaux Site, the square was constructed as part of the larger St. Mary's Way redevelopment.

[3] Keel Square was designed by Sunderland City Council’s in-house multi-disciplinary team led by Principal Landscape Architect Kevin Johnson.

[6] Additionally, the square was constructed to supplement the neighbouring Vaux Site in order to create a more attractive business environment in the city[6] As Sunderland Council Leader Paul Watson Quoted: In creating the new city centre public space we saw the opportunity to celebrate Sunderland’s shipbuilding and industrial heritageThe square hosts a unique public art feature to embed the industrial past, known as “The Keel Line”.

The start of the line is marked by the sculpture “Propellers of the City” designed by Stephen Broadbent,[6] containing names of those who worked in the Wear shipyards.

It is further aligned by a strip of paving listing over 8,100 ships launched on the Wear and incorporate a series of illustrations recording the history of Sunderland by renowned graphic artist Bryan Talbot.