Houssam Elokda
Managing Principal
Houssam is a community designer, housing expert and systems builder. He leads our strategic work along with our housing and master planning projects.
Houssam has a passion for creating urban plans, policies and designs that boost human happiness. He brings an evidence-based approach that helps governments, developers and non-profit clients maximize urban health and happiness. Houssam has led complex masterplanning, development and policy projects in diverse settings that range from rural towns to metropoles such as Dubai, Cairo and Vancouver. He also led Shore to Core, our groundbreaking collaboration with neuroscientists to examine the psycho-social effects of public space design in West Palm Beach.
Houssam plays leadership roles in various urbanist organizations. He is a co-founder and board chairman at Transport for Cairo, a mobility firm that pioneers data collection methods to improve informal transportation networks in emerging cities. He also sits on the board of organizations that work in real estate, transit advocacy and construction.
Projects Houssam has worked on
Mary Anne’s Place community engagement and design audit – Placemaker Communities
My home, my neighbourhood wellbeing survey – Vancouver Coastal Health
Accessibility legislation engagement for Alberta – Office of the Advocate for Persons with Disabilities
Dementia-inclusive planning and design guidelines – Simon Fraser University
Richmond permanent patio program development – City of Richmond
Social wellbeing in modular housing – Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
Spring Garden Road wellbeing assessment methodology – City of Halifax
National policy for happier, healthier communities – UAE Prime Minister’s Office
Happy neighbours: Design and programming for social connection in multi-unit buildings
Shore to core – West Palm Beach Community Redevelopment Agency