It is an 81-metre cylindrical building that was constructed around a central concrete core in 1961-65; it has 25 floors supported by core and perimeter columns.

The Rotunda was originally an office block with ground-floor leisure and retail units. One of these, the Mulberry Bush pub, was bombed by the IRA in November 1974.

The Rotunda was refurbished and converted into residential units by the developer Urban Splash in 2004-2008.

It now contains 232 luxury apartments and 6 penthouse suites. The cylindrical facade features floor-to-ceiling glazing.

There are many other listed buildings in the Retail Quarter, including St Martins-in-the-Bullring, St Michaels RC Church and the Trocadero pub.

The Retail Quarter also contains part of the Colmore Row & Environs Conservation Area.