Shirin Azad

Iranian civil engineer who designed the first earthquake-resistant buildings in Tehran during the 1940s

Shirin Azad (1915-2003) was a pioneering Iranian civil engineer who revolutionized building safety in seismically active regions. After surviving the 1930 Rudbar earthquake that destroyed her hometown, she dedicated her career to developing earthquake-resistant construction techniques. Her 1947 design for the Azadi Academic Complex in Tehran became the first building in the Middle East to incorporate base isolation technology - a method now used globally in earthquake-prone areas.

Azad's research led to the creation of the first seismic design codes for Iran's building regulations in 1955. Her 1960 publication <《Earthquake Resistant Construction》 introduced concepts like energy dissipation systems and reinforced concrete frames that are still industry standards. She founded the Iranian Institute of Seismic Engineering in 1968, which trained over 500 engineers from 23 countries.

Her work influenced the design of Japan's Sendai earthquake-resistant buildings and inspired the 2015 documentary <《Shirin's Foundations》. The UNESCO Shirin Azad Medal now honors engineers advancing seismic safety. Modern skyscrapers like Dubai's Burj Khalifa incorporate her principles in their foundation designs. Recent biographies include <《Shirin Azad: Engineering Modern Iran》, detailing her role in shaping global earthquake engineering practices.