At the 2022 Annual General Meeting (AGM) in May, the Association honoured its newest Members of Long Standing—individuals who have reached the milestone of 50 years of membership with the OAA as part of Ontario’s architecture profession. Among the recipients this year was Medhat Abdou.


Medhat graduated from Cairo University’s School of Architecture in 1964. Two years later, he emigrated to Canada where he worked in Montreal on several projects before the opening of Expo in April 1967.

Medhat then moved to Toronto where he worked with MMM Engineering firm for a military housing project in Abu Dhabi, UAE. He joined Donald Skinner Architect where he designed three primary schools for the then-new SEF learning program and several homes for the aged.


In 1969, Medhat joined the firm now known as Webb Zerafa Menkes Housdon (WZMH) where he worked as job captain on 390 Bay Street in Toronto as well as a branch for TD Bank, and a pavilion that incorporated a roof-suspended glass structure, engineered by Pilkington Glass of England.


Following three years of registration courses, Medhat became an OAA member In 1971. Three years later, he became an associate with WZMH and was involved in several projects in Canada and internationally. Medhat worked on several projects in Nova Scotia. His notable Ontario projects include Granite Place on St. Clair Ave W., the Granite Club in Toronto, Concord Place in Don Mills, and Corporation Square in Kitchener. In Scarborough, Medhat worked on Jamat Khana, and Ismali Mosque and St. Mark’s Church. Internationally, Medhat’s work included King Abdelaziz University Master Plan and the Kingdom Trade Center in Saudi Arabia, several projects in Abu Dhabi, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well as several high-rise residential and mixed-use buildings in Dubai. Also notable was the Pearl in Doha Qatar, Beirut Trade Center in Lebanon, and several projects in Kuwait in a joint venture with MTA Architects and DTAH Planners.


Medhat also worked in design in the hospitality sector including three Four Seasons Hotels in Egypt as well as the Ritz Carleton Hotel in Cairo. Medhat was also an architect responsible for the Leningrad Sports & Entertainment Complex master plan in the former USSR.

In 1985, Medhat became a Partner at WZMH and continued until his retirement in 2012. His tenure of 43 years in one practice may be considered a rarity these days!