The Council on Vertical Urbanism (CVU) is pleased to announce the appointment of Claude Touikan, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Lead8, as Chair of the CVU Vancouver Chapter.
Based in Lead8’s Vancouver studio, Touikan leads the firm’s North American operations, overseeing projects that integrate architecture, interiors, and placemaking across the region. A member of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, and a registered architect with L’Ordre des architectes du Québec and the Architectural Institute of British Columbia, he also serves on the RAIC Continuing Education Committee. His experience in mixed-use development and urban placemaking brings valuable perspective to CVU’s work in the region.
Touikan’s appointment comes at a pivotal moment for the organization, following CVU’s evolution from the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat. This transition reflects a broader mission that extends beyond building height to encompass holistic vertical urbanism—addressing how density, design, infrastructure, and public life intersect to shape resilient, human-centered cities.
As Chair of the Vancouver Chapter, Touikan will help advance CVU’s commitment to cross-disciplinary collaboration, engaging architects, developers, planners, and policymakers in dialogue around the future of vertical urban environments in Vancouver and beyond.