The University of Engineering and Technology (UTEC) in Lima, Peru is designed by Grafton Architects (the company Shelley McNamara co-created). The specialist university is in the Barranco district of the city. The structure is located on the edge of a ravine and extends vertically into the city’s skyline. The vertical plan is a reference to Peru’s terrain and the ancient city’s that were once there (Machu Picchu, for example). The frame of the building is a series of meeting spaces, balconies, and stairwells that are openly-circulated. The teaching rooms, offices, and labs are all enclosed and found at the center of the suspended floors. From each floor, one can view the city while being provided shade from the succeeding level. The building is revered for being modern and in touch with Lima’s rich culture. UTEC has won the Royal Institute of British Architect’s first international prize.