Anya Sirota

Anya Sirota is an Associate Professor of Architecture and Associate Dean for Academic Initiatives at the University of Michigan's Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning. As founding principal of Akoaki, her work sits at the intersection of architecture and urban design, exploring how aesthetics, social enterprise, and cultural programming can offer contemporary strategies for urban transformation.

Education:

• Master in Architecture from Harvard's Graduate School of Design (Araldo Cossutta Prize for Design Excellence)
• Bachelor of Arts in Modern Culture and Media from Brown University

Sirota's research focuses on equitable urban redevelopment through interdisciplinary design approaches. Her work challenges normative tropes of social practice by embracing aesthetics, beauty, and cultural pomp to create transformative urban spaces that resist conventional good taste. She investigates how architecture can serve as a catalyst for community engagement and economic sustainability, particularly in post-industrial contexts like Detroit. Her approach integrates agricultural systems, cultural programming, and architectural interventions to create multi-functional urban landscapes that prioritize resident impact.

Sirota's scholarly output demonstrates consistent exploration of urban transformation through aesthetic and social lenses. Her writing examines how design can challenge 'ruin porn' narratives while creating meaningful civic spaces that foster community dialogue and economic opportunity. The work consistently addresses the intersection of form-making with social enterprise, emphasizing how aesthetics can drive equitable urban development.

Scientific Awards:

• Architectural League Prize (2018)
• ACSA Faculty Design Award (2016)
• SXSW Eco Place by Design Award (2015)
• R+D Award from Architect Magazine (2013)
• Presidential Award for Understanding Democracy (2025)
• Partners in Progress Award (2024)
• Graham Foundation Grants (2024)

Sirota actively mentors students through her teaching of architectural design courses at multiple levels. Her research has been supported by significant grants including a Research on the City grant from Taubman College, a $1 million public art grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies for the 'Fertile Ground' project in Jackson, Mississippi, and multiple Graham Foundation grants. These funding sources have enabled her to develop innovative approaches to community-engaged design practice.

As founding principal of Akoaki, Sirota leads a design practice that functions as both a research laboratory and design studio. The firm has developed several significant projects including Imaging Detroit, Detroit Cultivator, and the Midtown Cultural Center, all of which demonstrate her commitment to creating urban spaces that integrate cultural programming, economic opportunity, and ecological sustainability.