Thesis: Center for Persian Culture

Written By BIBI Banous in Building Industry

Mani Ardalan Farhadi is an architect at Sasaki associates in Boston. She recently completed her thesis for a bachelor of architecture degree from Boston Architectural Center. Her thesis was dedicated to the design of a "Center for Persian Culture."

The 136-page document details her quest to play a part in the creation of a community center for Iranians living in the West; a place where Iranians can revisit, learn and experience their unique culture -- "a place ... like home."

Farhadi's passion for Iranian architecture has been nurtured by her father, Nader Ardalan, who designed a number of major projects in Iran, including Azadi (Shahyad) Stadium, Bu Ali Sina University and the Center for the Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults.

The Iranian Association of Boston is raising funds to build such an Iranian community center, incorporating some of the elements presented in Farhadi's original thesis.

BIBI Banous in Building Industry

BIBI (Banous In Building Industry) is an informal circle of Iranian-ancestry professional women dedicated to providing support, networking, mentorship, advice and camaraderie to other women in our industry, whether locally, nationally and globally. We represent a grassroots group of female-identity professionals in planning, architecture, interiors, engineering, landscape, construction, lighting, academia, and the arts, who elevate each other. Our group will maintain a comprehensive range from students to entry-level to mid-career to senior level to partners to retirees, in order to expand our reach and to mentor each other. We aim to stay fluid and evolve over time, serving as a model for other professional groups and as a design resource to the community.

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