In November 2007, Oliver Hein ran a series of short workshops with employees to develop thinking around public art for the new building.  The resulting 'Ship of Ideas' was a light framework containing sketches and images arising from the workshops.

Suggested themes for the new artwork included round or spherical forms to reference the circulatory nature of water, and the local environment.

Art & Business were consultants for the commissioning process, and included the workshop ideas in the commission brief.  The brief was fairly open, encouraging artists to consider proposals for artwork(s) in and around the new building.

Condron's initial sketch concepts explored ideas of the water cycle, fluidity and effervescence:

After a site tour and initial expression of interest, there was a shortlisting process where six applicants were asked to prepare maquettes.   

Condron's application included three designs:

Life Cycle - initial design