While a temporary campus location was sought for the university that was to open as soon as possible, the abandoned former Türkay Match Factory in İstinye, which belonged to the Vehbi Koç Foundation was considered.
koç üniversitesi kampüs

The First Board of Trustees Decides on a Temporary Campus

On 9 March 1992, Vehbi Koç Foundation’s Executive Board elected Koç University’s Board of Trustees, which convened for the first time on the same day. Suna Kıraç, Can Kıraç, M. Fahri İlkel, Ömer Koç, Yavuz Alangoya, Bülent Gültekin, and Tamer Şahinbaş became members of the Board of Trustees, under the chairship of Rahmi M. Koç. And on 16 March 1992, the Board appointed Tamer Şahinbaş to the position of Koç University’s founding President.

 

  • The First Board of Trustees (1993): (from left to right) Yavuz Alangoya, Fahri İlkel, Suna Kıraç, Rahmi M. Koç, Ömer Koç, Tamer Şahinbaş (Can Kıraç does not appear in this photograph.)

While a temporary campus location was sought for the university that was to open as soon as possible, the abandoned former Türkay Match Factory in İstinye, which belonged to the Vehbi Koç Foundation was considered. During a nine-month renovation process, practical solutions transformed the existing buildings into a functional campus. In September 1993, with its classrooms, laboratories, library, sport facilities, café and cafeteria, Koç University’s İstinye Campus was ready to accommodate academic life.

koç üniversitesi eski istinye kampüsü

While the physical work continued, preparations related to academic structure, IT infrastructure, technical issues and education were also underway. In September 1992, Tamer Şahinbaş went to the United States and met with Prof. Dr. Seha Tiniç, and in early 1993, Tiniç was offered the position of Koç University president. In June, Tiniç arrived from the United States and officially started his position.

Koç Üniversitesi, Rahmi M. Koç Bilim Madalyası Filmi

President of Koç University (1993-1999)

Prof. Dr. Seha Tiniç

We had started searching for a library director in the United States, and had met with various institutions
and companies which provided consultancy on libraries… We invited the library director from Princeton
University’s School of Engineering. We hired a library director from California as a consultant to establish
our core collection.