This international design competition attracted 92 entries from architects worldwide including from New York, Finland, Spain, Italy, Greece, Germany, Austria, China and Denmark, as well as the UK and Ireland. 

The intention of the competition brief was to create a facility that will give local residents and visitors from further afield a fresh, exciting view of the River Mersey and its place in the community and the wider region. 

Required to meet the highest standards of sustainability, including using renewable energy sources, it will be one of three complementary attractions making Crosby beach a genuine tourist attraction where people can spend all day. One is the installation Another Place by renowned artist Anthony Gormley. The other is the planned Sefton Water Centre, a major water sports, events and educational facility. 

 "The judges saw the Mersey Observatory project as a wonderful jeu d'esprit which wittily links Manhattan to the Mersey via the Cunard Line" Paul Finch, Editor MIPIM Architectural Review Future Project Awards 2009