Mersiha Veledar

Mersiha Veledar is an Assistant Professor and Acting Associate Dean at The Irwin S. Chanin School of Architecture, The Cooper Union. She holds a B.ARCH from Cooper Union (2003) and an M.ARCH II from Princeton University (2005). Her work integrates architectural practice with pedagogy, emphasizing healing through design and universal architectural standards. She coordinates innovative studios, including the award-winning 'Animate Archi-Tectonics' and 'Housing New York' projects, and has been recognized for her commitment to socially conscious architecture.

Education:

• B.ARCH, The Cooper Union, 2003
• M.ARCH II, Princeton University, 2005

Research Interests: Her practice and teaching focus on post-conflict urbanism, universal architectural elements, and the intersection of design with cultural resilience. She explores how architecture can address humanitarian challenges through projects like affordable housing and civic infrastructure. Recent work includes collaborations with organizations such as HelpUSA to innovate urban domesticity solutions.

Awards & Recognition:

• 2018 Studio Prize (ARCHITECT Magazine)
• RIBA Silver Medal Award (Student Thesis Project, 2017)

Advising & Grants: Advised thesis projects, including one honored with the RIBA Silver Medal. Collaborates on consortia like the 2019 NYC School Housing Inter-Consortium. Engaged in grant-supported initiatives focusing on urban housing and disaster-resilient design.

Labs & Teams: Coordinates interdisciplinary studios and participates in symposia on global architecture challenges. Recently lectured at The Royal Danish Academy and co-organized workshops on 'Inside-Outside/Freedom-Friction' in New York and Los Angeles.