The development is located on the site of St. Nicholas House, Aberdeen City Council's former 14-storey headquarters building, whose demolition was completed on 18 June 2014,[3] after staff had been relocated to the redeveloped Marischal College across the road.

In addition, there are a number of gastronomic outlets including All Bar One, Costa Coffee, Mackie's of Scotland and Tony Macaroni.

On 25 June 2019, Aberdeen local radio station Original 106 commenced broadcasting from their new studio complex located at 1 Marischal Square, within the office space of the station's owners DC Thomson, publishers of local newspaper titles The Press and Journal and Evening Express.

At the close of the 2003/04 academic year, the University of Aberdeen removed the Students' Association from its former building on 2-4 Upperkirkgate on the corner of Broad Street.

Public university use of Marischal College finally ceased completely in 2008 in preparation for Aberdeen City Council's renovation and use of the building.

A two-stage selection process followed, and in August 2012 it was announced that thirteen offers had been received by the Council from interested developers.

[9] The short-listed designs were made public in April 2013 and Manchester based Muse Developments in a joint venture with Aviva Investors were selected as the preferred bidder on 1 May 2013.

The ruling Labour, Conservative and Independent coalition voted in favour whilst the SNP and Liberal Democrats were opposed.

In response, Muse stated that the development would demonstrate "considerable respect to the city's granite tradition as well as the undeniable beauty and artistry of the Marischal College building and the warm public affection for Provost Skene's House".