Separation is common in our world even though it is often neglected. While much architecture attempts to minimize spatial separation, there are situations where separation is considered a necessity. These spaces are usually those of extraordinary or unfortunate circumstance. They are essentially exceptions to the norm, zones of legal limbo that ought to have a physical definition that is enriched by separation. The recent outbreak of Ebola and the current refugee crisis remind us of the precarious position we are in, especially with the dearth of institutions that can handle the complex human cases that emerge. Combining the bureaucratic side of humanitarianism with a presence-in-the- field in the global south, a UNHCR Global Service Center takes foot in West Africa. As a flagship model of an architecture for transient conditions, this thesis posits a building that is both humanitarian transit center and bureaucratic edifice.