Melek works on a variety of project types within the sector of life sciences and assists in activities ranging from early concept development to implementation. She possesses a passion for design centered around the built environment and its users. In her view, architecture can impact human development; therefore it is the responsibility of the designer to provide the most beneficial environments for their occupiers.
Before joining SGA in New York, Melek served for nearly three years as a substation physical designer at Sargent & Lundy in Chicago. There she produced full sets of construction drawings for electrical substations and energy storage sites, with scopes ranging from minor improvements to major overhauls of infrastructure. She initially joined Sargent & Lundy as a design intern during her architectural studies and accepted a full-time position upon her graduation.
Melek earned a Bachelor of Architecture from the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago. Her childhood was split between two countries: Turkey and the United States. A vivid memory from her time in Turkey is the 1999 Izmit earthquake. Experiencing the earthquake and its effects on people and buildings is what later prompted her to pursue a career in architecture.
Outside of the office Melek enjoys performing aerial dance and acrobatics, as evidenced by the regular bruises she sports on her legs. Other “milder” hobbies include camping, hiking, and traveling through ancient ruins like the Acropolis of Athens and the underground cities of Cappadocia in Turkey.
