In 1973 Sidell Gibson established an office in Tehran. A number of projects were undertaken until the change of Government in 1979. The most notable of these projects was the Master Plan for the City of Arak for the Ministry of Town Planning, which led to the invitation to participate in a competition for the new University of Arak for the Ministry of Education.

After winning the competition, the practice was responsible as the design team coordinators of the Anglo Iranian Government education team working in the UK and Iran. A detailed Master Plan with infrastructure and detailed design phases for the buildings were completed and approved by the Government. Work subsequently began on the initial phases of this project using local professional agencies. The first phase of the project, which included accommodation for 4,000 students with residential and leisure facilities, was completed.