Temple Circus was the fifth project undertaken for the College of Law in a rolling programme across the UK, to a tight construction programme and term deadline. An agreement to lease the ground and first floors of this major office building left the prospect of a limited street profile, and potential confusion for students, so an independent main entrance was agreed with the freeholder and constructed in a bold form on the main street façade. Uniting the ground and first floors became a key design requirement, so as to encourage use of the ground floor library and promote staff interaction. A large section of the first floor slab was removed and the new stair arrangement helps create a lively and interesting new reception area.