The university first began operations in 1993 in converted factory buildings in
İstinye, Sarıyer. After the university moved to its new home at
Rumelifeneri, the Istinye campus was remodelled to serve as a high-end conference and training center. Koç University's additional campuses and locations include the West Campus dormitories and residences in
Rumelifeneri,
Sarıyer; Koç University Hospital in
Topkapı; ANAMED in
Beyoğlu; KWORKS in
Şişli, Istanbul; AKMED in
Antalya; and Vehbi Koç Ankara Studies Research Center in
Ankara. Koç University's central campus at
Rumelifeneri is located north of
Istanbul, overlooking the
Bosphorus and the
Black Sea. The campus has 60 buildings, covering 230,000 square meters of built area. The
Koç University Suna Kıraç Library has five branches and holds some 322,000 print volumes plus nearly 160,000 ebooks and 64,000 online serial titles. The library also holds about 2,000 rare materials in the areas of Ottoman and European history, literature and religion. Koç University's Rumelifeneri campus was designed by prominent Boston based
American-Iranian architect Mozhan Khadem. Khadem is the chief design architect of all Koç University buildings as well as the master planner of its campus. According to Khadem, the architecture of the campus was inspired by light and the significance of the university's geographical location on the border between Europe and Asia. Khadem also sites inspiration from Turkish artistic and poetic heritage, the works of the Sufi poet
Rumi, and
Turkish and Ottoman architectural elements. The campus is designed along an east–west axis, with its architecture symbolizing a gateway of knowledge and light. This concept is embodied in the university's Portal of Knowledge, the arched main entrance that represents both a gateway to knowledge and a connection between East and West. Situated among hills overlooking the
Black Sea, the stepped architecture allows the campus to integrate within the steep contours of the surrounding terrain. The campus consists of a series of connected buildings surrounding a variety of interlocking courtyards. These courtyards draw on Ottoman architectural tradition and are replete with symbols of Turkish history and culture. The campus is compact and designed for pedestrians. Students and staff can move from place to place either through open courtyards or under cover. The campus utilizes a four by four meter modular design to accommodate different spatial needs. The final stage of the Rumelifeneri campus construction plan was realized in 2018 with the completion of a sixth faculty building, an extension to the library, and several new dormitory buildings. Additionally, students of Koç University founded the
American football team
Koç Rams, also known as the
Istanbul Rams which will play in the
European League of Football in the 2022 season. == Research ==