Born and raised in Turkey, Çağdaş completed his architecture degree at Istanbul Technical University, graduating in 2015 with the Best Thesis Award and the ArchiprixTR’15 Sustainability Award. His academic journey fostered a deep interest in the intersection of architecture, urbanism, and systemic decision-making—an interest that later expanded into procurement and strategic sourcing within the built environment.
Motivated by this interdisciplinary approach, he pursued a master’s program at the University of California, Los Angeles, under the supervision of Distinguished Professor Thom Mayne. After completing his studies, Çağdaş joined UCLA as a graduate researcher, contributing to the publication of three academic works in Architecture and Sustainable Urban Planning.
Professionally, he gained experience at globally recognized firms such as Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP (SOM) and UNStudio, where he served in various capacities including Architectural Designer, Urban Designer, GIS Specialist, Parametric Designer, Lead Designer, and Project Manager. These roles strengthened his understanding of complex urban systems, material supply chains, and the operational needs of large-scale built-environment projects.
Currently, Çağdaş works as an Urban Designer and GIS Specialist at Gemeente Groningen. Alongside this role, he operates independently through his own practice, where he has expanded his expertise into procurement, supplier engagement, and market development—particularly focusing on materials, products, and technologies relevant to architecture, construction, and urban infrastructure.
As a Benelux-based consultant, he now supports manufacturers and clients by bridging technical design knowledge with market-oriented procurement strategies, enabling effective collaboration between suppliers and stakeholders in the built environment.
EDUCATION
University of California, Los Angeles | Master of Architecture II
Istanbul Technical University | Bachelor of Architecture – Best Thesis Award
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Gemeente Groningen | NL | Urban Designer & GIS Specialist (on-going)
UNStudio | NL | Architectural Designer, Urban Designer & GIS Specialist (2019-2022)
Urban Obscura | TR | Smart City Specialist (2017-2018)
Subroomer Records | TR | Media Artist, Sound Producer (2017-2018)
Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP | USA | Architectural Assistant (2016-2017)
University of California, Los Angeles | USA | Graduate Researcher (2016)
HONORS
Los Angeles Times | featured on Opinion: 2050 Sustainable LA Vision
ARCHIPRIX`15 | Sustainability Award
ITU Graduation Projects | Best Thesis Project Award
mimED Student Competition | Jury`s Special Award
AIA NAAB Accreditation Commitee | commitee member
China Garden Expo | landscape design certificate, Wuhan HUST
KNAUFF Internal Wall Systems | fabrication certificate
World Habitat Day 2DwellDesign | participation certificate
REFERENCES
Thom Mayne, Distinguished Prof. | UCLA, Morphosis
Eui-Sung Yi, Adjunct Associate Prof. | UCLA, Morphosis
Michael Mann, FAIA, NCARB, Managing Director | SOM
Caroline Bos, BA, MSc, Int (F)RIBA Co-Founder & Principal Urban Planner | UNStudio
Marcel Klaveringa, Teamleider bij de directie Stadsontwikkeling | Gemeente Groningen