Elif Ertekin Gurkan,M.Arch, LEED AP

Architect | Strategic Experience Designer , Retail & Public Realm, Founder of EDC, (M.Arch, LEED A.P.) GYODER Design Committee Chair | Executive Board Member , CEDBIK Member , GISP Member

Istanbul, Istanbul, Türkiye

About

Elif Ertekin Gurkan is the founder and president of EDC, a boutique and yet one of the top leading project development/design management consultancy companies in Turkey. With over 15 years of experience Elif has gained strong international exposure with wide experience of undertaking projects from a variety of different sectors working with significant local and global designers/developers. She has gained her B.Arch degree in Turkey and her M.Arch degree in USA, Virginia Tech. Starting her career in USA with strong connections in the European and Turkish market made her one of the top exclusive players of real estate development sector. Elif is always willing to consider new opportunities in business, meeting new clients in design and construction businesses to contribute in the best way to meet her client’s expectations. She believes that unique design and development can only be delivered by working with professionals that deliver the best understanding of the commercial, cultural and communal needs of clients, end-users and the broader communities. Elif’s goal is to combine her profound experience in mixed-use, commercial, retail, entertainment & leisure, hospitality and residential design with ingenious groundbreaking and integrated design, balanced by the fundamental criteria of build-ability, cost efficiency and programming. Elif works closely with clients and consultants from the early stages of projects to ensure that the projects are completed as envisioned in the beginning. She is the local contact of several American and British design companies in Istanbul and she is currently involved in the development of exclusively boutique and special projects of the country. She also teaches a design classes at Medipol Universiy, one of the top-ranked Turkish colleges in Istanbul in Architecture department, Specialties: Design and Architecture, Project Management, Business Development and Administration, Client relationship, Marketing and Entrepreneurship.

Experience

  • Founder/Visionary Content and Design Consultant for Retail and Public Spaces at EDC (Ertekin Development Consultants)
    Sep 2012 - Present · 13 yrs 10 mos

    EDC is one of the top leading boutique design consultancy companies in Turkey. We specialize in retail/entertainment and public design in any scale depending on the size of the project. We follow the new trends in the market and act as Visionary Retail and Life Center Consultants/Designers to our Clients. EDC is proudly serving the market since 2012 with top-notch quality projects in Turkey among which we can mention Tahincioglu Palladium Kucukyali Shopping Level Design, Elazig Elysium Shopping Mall and Residential Blocks Design, Galataport Competition Project, Mavibahce Shopping Mall Design/Coordination and Management, Metropol Shopping Mall Design and Coordiation, Folkart REIT Consultancy and many more projects that you can visit on our website. EDC also broadcasts EDConnect Series, a live conversation with leaders of the Industry moderated by our Founder Elif Ertekin Gurkan. Elif Ertekin Gurkan also manages EDCBlog on our website www.ertekinproje.com. EDC is also a part of GISP Platform. The founder of EDC, Elif Ertekin Gürkan, graduated from Yıldız Technical University in Turkey and then completed her M. Arch degree at Virginia Tech and worked as designer and project coordinator in several architectural companies for 8 years. Upon her return in Turkey she worked as manager in project development companies and she decided to establish her boutique consultancy firm in which she can share and integrate her experience of international and national design and coordination experience of 15 years. Gürkan, owns a LEED certification and also gives architectural design classes at Gedik University, Medipol University and Okan University

  • Adjunct Professor at Medipol University
    Aug 2019 - Present · 6 yrs 11 mos

  • Adjunct Professor at Istanbul Bilgi University
    Feb 2022 - Jan 2025 · 3 yrs

  • Founding Member and Director of Design at Design Hub Turkiye
    Aug 2023 - Jul 2024 · 1 yr

    Design Hub Türkiye, a gateway, for Turkish building design and engineering companies to access the global stage. Our mission is to empower these companies to expand internationally, navigate changing global dynamics, and drive growth and success in the evolving global order.

  • Adjunct Professor at Nişantaşı Üniversitesi
    Feb 2022 - Jul 2023 · 1 yr 6 mos