Sima Akdurak

Sima received her Bachelor of Arts in Architectural Studies and History of Art, with a minor in Urban Studies, from Tufts University in Medford, MA. Her Senior Honors Thesis, “Foundations for the Future: An Earthquake Relief Design for Izmir, Turkey,” proposed transforming temporary post-disaster shelters into permanent, adaptable housing—encouraging designers to consider the long-term social and environmental consequences of emergency architecture. For this work, she received the Madeline Caviness Prize for excellence in architectural scholarship. Upon completing her degree, she joined Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) in New York as an Architectural Intern, contributing to architectural visualization, physical modeling, and concept design. 

Currently pursuing her Master of Architecture at MIT, Sima’s research remains deeply rooted in her Turkish heritage and driven by questions of reconstruction, material circularity, and community agency. Through her academic and professional experiences, she has developed a strong passion for design, manufacturing, and urban planning, and seeks to apply this interdisciplinary perspective toward creating resilient, inclusive, and contextually responsive environments.