- This was always intended to be a civic building and one that is porous and open to the public.

The civic part of the site, the most civic part is the harbor walk, which is encircling the building on the east and north faces.

And taking that harbor walk and bringing it into the building is a major component of the architecture.

(gentle music) - Too often, these institutions have been intimidating, places that some people don't feel like they can go up the steps and visit, take the, you know, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, for example.

And I feel as if so much of what Liz and Ric were countering was that kind of institution on a plinth idea.

They wanted to bring it down to the level of the public.

(gentle music) - I think the ICA was gonna test them.

Can they continue to be cutting edge and do real buildings?

Can they continue to be progressive, challenging, critical architects and still engage in the realities of making an institutional building?

(gentle music) (machine whirring) - Is it going to be all the things we've described?

Is it going to do what we hope it will do?

This is one of my doubts and concerns.

And so it's gonna continue to be a mystery.

- This is right now ours.

We still have control.

So for four years from conception to realization to the day it opens.

- [Ric] You just think we have control.

- Well, it's true.

Not quite.