The initial concept for this building related to the idea of carbon and its three main states: graphite, diamonds, and fullerenes, and then generating a design using these three characteristics. As development evolved, however, carbon became a departure point for an idea that would relate more to the idea of layering volumes. Thus, the final design features a series of masses staggered almost in a Raumplan manner around a central courtyard directly accessible from the park.

The project also marked the first time structure and materials were seriously considered. Students were encouraged to explore the method of construction and present a detail model based on it.