In our first game a player researched the Printing Press tech in order to build a University in the next turn. However she hadn't researched the Writing tech before which unlocks Library, this is allowed in the game, so she had not any Library to upgrade at that moment (University is the upgraded version of Library).
There was no University card in market place but Libraries. I didn't allow her to build a University by paying the 7 production point for it and picking up a Library card from market place and placing it on the map with the appropriate face up. I told her she should wait until someone builds and loses a University, but I'm not sure, I was right.
So, is it required to have an upgraded building in the marketplace to build it from the ground?