It is one of the two broad avenues, along with D'Olier Street, that converge at their northern ends at O'Connell Bridge over the River Liffey.

The original building and facade were significantly altered with a design by architect Sam Stephenson in the early 1970s for EBS.

The terracotta facade was demolished and replaced with dark mirror glass which was dubbed a "diabolical black box" by a city councillor at the time it was constructed.

The EBS had also acquired three adjoining buildings, the Paradiso restaurant, the main office of The Irish Times, and Graham's pharmacy with plans to demolish these and replicate the dark glass treatment.

The facade of the former Paradiso, an art nouveau design, was retained within the centre of the redevelopment and houses the building's atrium.