The diversity of requirements and sense of ambition expressed by the client spurred us to take some bold architectural stances: first of all, we created a new urban depth of field, thereby elevating our build and amplifying its vast and imposing dimensions, by placing the building on stilts and having the entry below street level. This enabled us to erect two glass-walled floors hovering over the city, opening up the campus to its urban surroundings. The way in which the building’s component areas were organised – with an auditorium and restaurant on the roof, above the dedicated research spaces - made up a whole that deliberately contrasted with its environment, while still remaining a welcoming space, where the overhanging auditorium creates a giant canopy for students. Inside, foot traffic is channelled through a series of striking spaces, reflecting the wealth of interwoven disciplines that make up the field of social sciences.