The Clay Mathematics Institute is a privately funded institute dedicated to increasing and disseminating mathematical knowledge. The Institute offices provide private and common work and study space, administrative space, and a central teaching space. Here we employed a strategy of creating private sheltered spaces within an open field of light, and views of Harvard Square, by the use of free standing dividers—which equip the work or study space—engaged in glass walls. Again this strategy provides the balance of private workspace with engagement in a common space and community which is essential to effective academic space.