The Grand Serail is a historic building, the most important of three Ottoman monuments crowning the Serail hill. The other two are the Council for Development and Reconstruction and the clock tower adorning the landscaped Serail square. The building was particularly damaged during the Lebanon war, and the renovation to its present state of grandeur is a symbol of the vision and challenge involved in the reconstruction of Beirut city center. Today, the Grand Serail is a blend of heritage architecture with a modern interior and high-tech amenities. Its reinstatement as the seat of the Prime Minister's offices has consecrated the city center as the focus of political life.