The individual components are encompassed in a compact ring around a spacious landscaped courtyard, which portrays a representative and quiet building block edge to the outside of the cityscape. The courtyard with its tiered patio areas functions as an open forum promoting communication between the individual institutions.

The outer compactness of the new university building is supported by closely knit concrete facade pilasters. This appears as a subtly structured volume to integrate the project into its surroundings with respect to color and materiality. The characteristics of this building are defined by the homogeneity of the light concrete, the use of a limited amount of different materials, and neglecting the building elements such as windowsills and venetian blinds.

The uniform block structure at the main entrance is deliberately broken, as the autonomous block of the Department for Research and Higher Education significantly protrudes in plan and height. A gem-like exterior layer of adjustable vertical glass panels are used in the building ring-seemingly without touching it.

The ground floor and the first floor are reserved for the entrance hall, the dinning hall and the classrooms. In the standard floors are offices, conference rooms and student apartments. The auditorium is embedded low in the center of the block creating space for a large terrace above, which is linked via seating steps through the courtyard. The rich greenery of the patio creates an oasis within the compact urban structure that makes the Pôle universitaire des Quais a significant part of the urban university life.