Shaw and John proposed to install a grandiose flight of entrance steps, flanked by equestrian statues in tribute to the recently dead King Edward VII. Reilly regarded the plan as an Edwardian Baroque subversion of the hall's "pure and sublime neo-classical concept".
Shaw and John suggested adding a grand entrance staircase with equestrian statues to honor King Edward VII. Reilly saw this as an Edwardian Baroque departure from the intended pure and sublime neo-classical design for the hall.