Nestled into a prominent hillside site, the Shapiro Student Center is composed of two three-story wings joined by a full-height atrium and multiple angular elements casually assembled. Within, the atrium is the crossroad of the school, with bridges, balconies, and stairways providing the armature of student life. Part shopping mall, part social space, campus centers have become a key element of college life where the needs of the student are given priority. At Brandeis, this building type has a very lively and informal character, encouraging active interchange under control of the students. A theater, bookstore, cafe, twenty-four-hour library, meeting rooms for student organizations, and the administrative offices that support student life gather in an open and comfortable ambiance.