To cope with the rising demand for tertiary education, it was decided in the late 1950s that the University of Malta would relocate from the Jesuit College in Valletta to a new location. The University found its new home at Msida in an elevated area known as Tal-Qroqq. The size of the site accommodated not only the current needs but also allowed for future expansion.

A master plan was prepared by British architects Norman and Dawbarn in 1961 and works started on the new campus in 1963.

Rather than house all university activities in a limited number of utilitarian styled blocks, it was decided to separate departments in stand alone buildings scattered informally throughout the campus creating a number of pleasant outdoor landscaped spaces ideal as meditative individual study areas.

Each building had a unique design and the overall result provided an eclectic mix of architectural Modernism ranging from organic structures such as the Science Lecture theatre (John Borg Hall) and the Assembly Hall (Sir Temi Zammit Hall) to functional cubism such as the University House (Student House).

Due to the outdoor nature of the university the issue of circulation through the campus became a key design issue. It was decided to link the buildings through a series of robust and heavy set covered walkways that still remain today.

The Malta Environment and Planning Authority scheduled the Science Lecture Theatre, Assembly Hall, University House and the covered walkways as Grade 2 structures on 8th May 2012.