One of the central aims of our design for Turin University was to bring a social, collegiate environment to the campus with new public spaces and shared community facilities. Placing the refectory, bookshop and café at the heart of the site has helped to create a destination in this formerly industrial area, and the combination of new and refurbished buildings provide landmarks for the site. The project also shows our commitment to sustainable design – like the Masdar Institute, the first building of its kind to be completely solar powered, Turin’s buildings feature a number of passive and active strategies to cut waste and reduce energy, and the pedestrian friendly green space is an oasis in the heart of a busy city.