The building is a secular facility proposed in the City of Ottawa to establish a formal and symbolic presence for His Highness the Aga Khan and his institutions in Canada. It is configured as an elongated, rectangular “ring” whereby program surrounds two large “inner sanctuaries”: a glazed atrium and a courtyard. The building as a whole will be an interplay of visual clarity and opacity, overlaid with various degrees of translucency. Like the natural beauty of a rock crystal that is a true wonder to the human eye, it is hoped that the Delegation building will be a source of optimism, fascination, and enlightenment.