diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 7ce4615..0c80a90 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -12,10 +12,14 @@ else()
     set(UPDATE_DISCONNECTED_IF_AVAILABLE "UPDATE_DISCONNECTED 1")
 endif()
 
+##Create directory for the external libraries
+file(MAKE_DIRECTORY ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/build/external)
+
 ##vcglib devel branch
 download_project(PROJ		    vcglib_devel
                  GIT_REPOSITORY     https://github.com/cnr-isti-vclab/vcglib.git
                  GIT_TAG	    devel
+                 PREFIX             ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/build/external/
                  ${UPDATE_DISCONNECTED_IF_AVAILABLE}
 )
 
@@ -23,6 +27,7 @@ download_project(PROJ		    vcglib_devel
 download_project(PROJ               MATPLOTPLUSPLUS
                  GIT_REPOSITORY     https://github.com/alandefreitas/matplotplusplus
                  GIT_TAG	    master
+                 PREFIX             ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/build/external/
                  ${UPDATE_DISCONNECTED_IF_AVAILABLE}
                  )
 add_subdirectory(${MATPLOTPLUSPLUS_SOURCE_DIR})
@@ -31,6 +36,7 @@ add_subdirectory(${MATPLOTPLUSPLUS_SOURCE_DIR})
 download_project(PROJ               POLYSCOPE
                  GIT_REPOSITORY     https://github.com/nmwsharp/polyscope.git
                  GIT_TAG	    master
+                 PREFIX             ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/build/external/
                  ${UPDATE_DISCONNECTED_IF_AVAILABLE}
 )
 add_subdirectory(${POLYSCOPE_SOURCE_DIR})
@@ -39,6 +45,7 @@ add_subdirectory(${POLYSCOPE_SOURCE_DIR})
 download_project(PROJ               BOBYQA
                  GIT_REPOSITORY     https://github.com/elsid/bobyqa-cpp.git
                  GIT_TAG	    master
+                 PREFIX             ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/build/external/
                  ${UPDATE_DISCONNECTED_IF_AVAILABLE}
 )
 add_subdirectory(${BOBYQA_SOURCE_DIR})