From UB to Istanbul: Alumni honored for contributions to architecture
BY KELLY SHELDON
Published August 5, 2025
Sema and Murat Soygeniş, 2025 UB International Distinguished Alumni
Each year, the University at Buffalo awards the UB International Distinguished Alumni Award to a former graduate in recognition of exceptional career accomplishments, community or university service, and research and scholarly activity. This year, the School of Architecture and Planning is proud to announce that two of its alumni have been honored with this award – Murat Soygeniş (MArch ’85) and Sema Soygeniş (MArch ’86).
Murat and Sema met as classmates at Istanbul Technical University, and Sema joined as a fellow student in UB’s Advanced Building Technology Program one year after Murat. They were married shortly after Murat earned his master of architecture degree, and she earned hers one year later.
After graduating, they both worked in the Baltimore-Washington area, and they co-founded the firm that would eventually become S+ ARCHITECTURE. They later returned to Turkey, where they’ve built vibrant careers that span architectural practice, teaching, research, writing, and educational leadership.
At S+ ARCHITECTURE, their work is centered on human experience with a strong emphasis on preserving the cultural integrity of buildings and neighborhoods. Their practice also reflects a deep commitment to social responsibility, both as global citizens and as stewards of the environment. “My keywords for architecture are nature, culture, and human beings,” Sema expressed. “We have to be friendly with nature and sustain its continuity; each culture has its own background and story, so there’s a lot to learn from them as architects; and we have to care about the wellbeing of people.”
Both Murat and Sema have held academic positions at institutions of higher education, including serving as dean—Murat at Yildiz Technical University’s School of Architecture and Sema at the BAU School of Architecture and Design. Currently, Murat is engaged in architectural practice, teaching, and pursuing writing projects, while Sema continues to teach, conduct research, and contribute to publications through her professional insights.
Murat also serves as a jury member for local and international architecture awards and competitions, providing him with valuable insight into current and emerging trends in the field. Currently, he has observed a range of priorities including sustainability, carbon-neutral and environmentally conscious architecture, technological transformation, ethical and social responsibility, modularity, flexibility, disaster-resilient architecture, small-space design, and multi-generational accessibility. The latter is an increasingly significant issue in the historic city of Istanbul, where there is a growing recognition of the importance of accessible design.
S+ ARCHITECTURE follows a design process dedicated to the integration of building and urban context, and finding innovative solutions for specific problems.
Both Murat and Sema regard their time at UB as a formative experience in their professional development, providing insights and lessons that have continued to inform their work as designers and educators.
For one, they learned the importance of the interconnectedness between professional work and academic engagement. “We were equipped with a wide spectrum of experience when we returned to Istanbul,” Murat explained. “Our experience here was always twofold, practice and academia, which we learned from UB. It opened us up to a wide world of practitioners, educators, and colleagues with whom we always kept connected and collaborated with. Our approach as educators also emphasized this concept. Throughout the years, we tried to bridge practice and academia by organizing activities and attracting attendees from the professional and academic worlds.”
“In architecture, culture is important. So, that introduction to different ideas and cultures and how you relate to architecture has always been my concern, even today in my professional life.” - Sema Soygeniş
Sema added, “The focus was on real-life practice in the ABT program. So as an educator and as an administrator, I value the importance of theory and practice together. Universities need to create collaborative studies with professionals beyond just internships. People from the practical world should be part of the teaching – it shouldn’t just be theoretical.”
She also stressed the value of the diverse and international makeup of her class at UB, noting that this diversity created meaningful opportunities for students to reflect on their own cultural backgrounds while gaining insight into others’. “In architecture, culture is important,” she reflected. “So, that introduction to different ideas and cultures and how you relate to architecture has always been my concern, even today in my professional life.”
The couple has remained actively connected to UB over the years, offering internships to architecture students and participating in seminars, panel discussions, and social events with their fellow alumni. Murat was also the founding president of the UB Alumni Turkey Network. “We are truly humbled and honored to receive this award,” he shared. “We always plan to give back and share with the University at Buffalo community. This is our ultimate goal – sharing with UB.”
“Maybe I made the right choice at the right time by coming to Buffalo,” Sema added. “That’s what I feel right now.”
When asked if they have any advice for today’s students, their vast experience as educators and mentors really came through. Between them, they offered ten kernels of wisdom for UB’s architecture and planning students.
Murat is engaged in architectural practice, teaching, and pursuing writing projects, while Sema continues to teach, conduct research, and contribute to publications through her professional insights.
1. Stay current with emerging software tools that enhance online communication and presentation capabilities.
2. Expand your professional network – building connections is key.
3. Consider pursuing advanced degrees. A master’s or doctorate can open doors to interdisciplinary careers and academic opportunities.
4. Explore a variety of diverse career paths. Your journey might include teaching, practice, research, or a combination of these.
5. Embrace lifelong learning. Architecture is an evolving field, and it’s valuable to continually be equipping yourself with new skills.
6. Focus on interdisciplinary and collaborative studies. Each discipline brings a unique perspective to problem-solving.
7. Appreciate cultural diversity. Understanding your own culture – and others’ – is vital in shaping thoughtful design.
8. Draw inspiration from nature. It’s a powerful creative resource and one that we have a responsibility to protect.
9. Ask yourself “why” before resolving a problem. Understanding the reasoning behind your decisions leads to more meaningful solutions.
10. Find something that you love to do. If you don’t enjoy what you’re doing, you need to leave it. Loving your work is key to long-term fulfillment.
Murat also has a word of advice for all current UB students, not just those studying architecture. “Discover the UB campuses as early as possible. They offer great environments for studying, sports, and cultural activities."
Murat and Sema Soygeniş will be formally presented with the UB International Distinguished Alumni Award on October 3, alongside the other recipients of the university’s 2025 alumni honors.
