Architects and professors Sema Soygeniş and Murat Soygeniş together comprise a lifelong team of architects and educators who have made contributions in architectural practice and education. Their work has bridged practice and the academy, research and architectural education. They are dedicated to contributing to the public good locally and globally, and both remain connected with the University at Buffalo community.

Murat Soygeniş, MArch ’85

Architect and professor Murat Soygeniş, is a founding partner at S+ ARCHITECTURE. In addition to his UB degree, he also earned two other architecture degrees from an institution in Turkey. He worked as a licensed architect in the U.S. before co-founding his architectural studio in 1990.

As dean of the School of Architecture at Yildiz Technical University in Istanbul, Soygenis received awards for his contributions to the profession. In addition, he has given numerous lectures on architecture and urbanism in many countries and participated in exhibitions, workshops and on juries. He has received design awards from various institutions and has exhibited his work at significant venues on three continents, including universities and municipalities.

He is the author of 12 books on architecture, some serving as reference books, as well as three monographs about his work and design process. Among the books he has authored are Building Construction 1-2-3-4; Istanbul: An Urban Commentary; Architecture in Turkey; Utopias for Istanbul; and Architecture: Through Life.

His projects have also been featured in publications, including Third Message, Visions for Istanbul, Yildiz Meetings 2001, Platform for Architecture and Visioning Architecture: The Sketches of Murat Soygeniş.

He is a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects, a member of the Chamber of Architects in Istanbul, and the Royal Institute of British Architects.

Sema Soygeniş, MArch ’86

Sema Soygeniş is a professor and architect, and a founding partner of S+ ARCHITECTURE. Her multi-faceted contributions to the profession include design, research and teaching.

She earned both a bachelor’s and master's degree in architecture  from Istanbul Technical University. She was a fellow at the University at Buffalo School of Architecture and Planning and holds her master of architecture degree from UB’s Advanced Building Technology Program. She worked as an architectural designer in the U.S. and co-founded her architectural studio in 1990. Currently, she is a full-time professor at Bahcesehir University in Istanbul.

Soygeniş has served in numerous administrative and honorary positions, including as an honorary board member for professional and educational platforms, invited chair and scientific committee member for many international events. She served as dean of the BAU School of Architecture and Design in Istanbul, Turkey. Her research areas focus on architectural design, theory, architectural education, urban space and housing. Her professional and research work has appeared in significant publications, including books, journals and two monographs. In addition to, she has also authored several books on architecture.

Her work has also been exhibited in the American Institute of Architects Gallery in Baltimore, in UB’s School of Architecture and Planning Gallery, House of Architects in Moscow, New York University and in Turkey.