The brief for this long, low building called for a welcoming environment outside the main prison for visitors to wait, leave their children, take advice, enjoy refreshments and otherwise prepare for or recover from visits.  The over-sailing triangular roof of pre-patinated copper is a distinctive, major element of the design which 'peels up' at one corner to give a light, open elevational treatment sympathetic to the building's users. 

In particular, the judges were impressed by the strong use of geometry working alongside a pallet of friendly, natural materials , such as copper, to reinforce the non-institutional intentions of the building.