The Aston University Student Guild had long been short of space for students to relax and interact with other students whilst on campus. The Social Study Centre, occupying an entire floor of the Guild building, was developed so as to provide three distinct areas for Students to meet and study, each with a different degree of formality. An open café style seating area led through to more intimate area of sofas and coffee tables for group discussion and then onto a quiet area which provided workstations for more intensive quiet study.