Skip to content

A Success Story: From EMU to Turkey’s Largest Projects

Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU) 2010-2011 Academic Year Fall Semester Architecture Faculty graduate Erdem Salman, has become one of Turkey’s most important architects despite his young age. Upon graduation, Salman initially started working at a family firm. In July 2011 he decided to establish his own company. Stating that he was first seen as a newly emerging young architect, Salman noted that he started to prove himself after working on a number of projects. Salman also indicated that the self-confidence he gained in the field is due to the education he received at EMU.

Turkish State Railways Solved the Problem of Frosting

Touching on the fact that he always works with success-oriented and professional work plannings, Salman decided to focus on the application aspect of his architecture profession rather than the project aspect and he stated that the international project he worked on in 2012 boosted the self-confidence he already has. With this project, for the first time in the world Salman succeeded to solve the issue of frosting on high-speed trains in Turkish State Railways (TCDD). TCDD, which had been trying different methods like hot water spraying or manually cleaning to prevent frosting on high-speed trains caused by cold weather conditions, finally found solution with the help of “Defrosting and Preventing Frosting of High-Speed Trains Project” developed by EMU Architecture Faculty graduate Erdem Salman.

Job Offers from Abroad

Emphasizing the significant contribution of research oriented education he received in English language at EMU, Salman said that; “When I started doing research on the methods applied to prevent frosting on high-speed trains around the world, I observed that many firms especially in England, France and other European countries had also been working on the same issue. Therefore I contacted these firms. I developed my own system by trying to find a more economical solution to the issue while I was analysing different methods. The system that I developed is currently being used in the TCDD high-speed trains in Ankara and Konya.  Our trains are safer than before. After succeeding in the project, I took the patent and with the great interest I received from expositions, I have signed contracts with countries such as Poland, Kazakhstan and Kirghizia. Adding more, I have decided to take a step further and I started to accept construction works in Turkey”.

Rejected from the Internship, Now Works in Joint Project

While his study in EMU, Salman had the chance to meet with another EMU graduate Salih Yılgörür who is also a partner in one of Turkey’s leading architecture firms during the first ever Carrier Days in 2009-2010 Academic Year and Salman, applied for internship in Tabanlıoğlu Architects firm upon his meeting with Yılgörür. Salman wasn’t accepted because there was no vacancy and as a result he was very upset. After many years, Erdem Salman became a businessman in construction sector who is competing with experienced firms and wining tenders on infrastructure and superstructure in various region of Turkey, even though he was in his mid-20s. He also won the biggest Congress Centre tender in Anatolia.

Salman who won the tender of the very challenging project of Selçuklu Congress Centre in Konya, realised that the drawings of the project were done by the Tabanlıoğlu Architects firm. At the age of 28, Salman got the chance to work in a joint project with the very same firm once he dreamt and wished to be an intern in. He completed he project within a short period of 2 years. The grand opening of the Congress Centre was inaugurated by the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım, former Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu, President of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey İsmail Kahraman, 7 ministers, around 30 members of the parliament and bureaucrats. Being blissful and proud to be accomplishing a lot in his twenties, Salman touched on the fact that his own firm which he had established on his own in 2010, now has 14 worksites, 371 million TL of work load and 1,200 employees.

“We prefer EMU Graduates”

By advising the future architects who will graduate from EMU to always be success-oriented and to work with discipline in throughout career, Salman said that; “We always prefer EMU graduates when we are considering to recruiting personnel in our firm. 15 EMU graduates are currently working in our team. I want to pave the way and create opportunities for the new graduates. They can apply for an internship or a job within the body of our firm”.