August 18, 2020
Architecture graduate student recognized with computational design award
![Black and white portrait of Ozguc Capunaman](https://arts.psu.edu/assets/uploads/news/_860xAUTO_fit_center-center_80_none/arch_2008_Capunaman-Ozuc.jpg)
“What makes Özgüç stand out is his directness, openness and critical approach to solving problems. He thinks outside the box." — Benay Gürsoy ToykoçBenay Gürsoy Toykoç, assistant professor of architecture at Penn State who is also a previous Young CAADRIA Award recipient herself, encouraged Çapunaman to apply for the honor. Gürsoy Toykoç was one of Çapunaman’s instructors during his undergraduate studies at Istanbul Bilgi University and she currently leads the Form and Matter — or ForMat — Lab in the Stuckeman Center for Design Computing where the graduate student is a researcher. According to her, the paper Çapunaman submitted presented an original challenging approach to robotic fabrication in design fields. “Without any hesitation, I can say Özgüç was one of the best undergraduate students I’ve ever had the chance to work with; he’s always pushed the boundaries,” she said. “As a Ph.D. student, he is again very ambitious, self-sufficient and eager to learn and explore. He likes challenges and does not feel comfortable in his comfort zone.” Gürsoy Toykoç explained that from the very first class she taught with Çapunaman as a student, she could tell that he would be particularly successful. She always enjoyed their intellectual conversations, which she felt always kept her perspective on things fresh. “What makes Özgüç stand out [as a student and researcher] is his directness, openness and critical approach to solving problems. He thinks outside the box,” she said. “He communicates himself very well in both written and spoken conversation and I think one of the reasons he was given this award is his ability to clearly communicate complex ideas.”
![Black and white portrait of Ozguc Capunaman](https://arts.psu.edu/assets/uploads/news/_680xAUTO_fit_center-center_80_none/arch_2008_Capunaman-Ozuc.jpg)
Schools and Departments:
Department of Architecture, Stuckeman School
Unit Research:
Stuckeman Center for Design Computing (SCDC)
Degrees:
Architecture, Ph.D.