Longtime friends and business partners thrive as architecture grad students

July 8, 2026 - 22:26

Setareh Farashzadeh and Yasaman Ghaffarian arrived at Penn State as close friends and already established architects, looking to dig deeper into the history and theory behind their work. The two originally come from Iran, where they launched their own architecture practice after finishing their bachelor's degrees. Together, they decided they wanted to expand their understanding of the built environment, not just how to build it, but why it is built a certain way.

Their shared interests and long-standing friendship led them to enroll in the dual master of architecture and master of science in architecture program at the Stuckeman School, part of the College of Arts and Architecture. For them, the program offered a rare chance to step back from daily practice and examine the bigger ideas shaping their field. They say being in the same classes has been a natural extension of how they already work together, bouncing ideas off each other and pushing each other to think more critically. Both women see their partnership as a source of strength, allowing them to tackle complex design problems while keeping their personal connection intact. Their journey from running a firm in Iran to studying together in the United States shows how friendship and professional ambition can reinforce each other in unexpected ways.