Ola Znad is an Iraqi architect, urban designer, and researcher, currently working at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) in the City Design Practice. Born in Baghdad and raised in Bahrain, she holds a Master’s in Architecture from University College Dublin and a Bachelor’s in Architecture from the University of Bahrain. Her research, focused on urban design and cultural issues in the region, has been published and contributes to broader conversations in the field.
Ola’s professional experience spans high-profile international projects such as Bahrain and Kazakhstan Airports and Formula 1 Qatar. She is also a co-founder of the initiatives Manama Lab and Design Majlis, both of which encourage innovation in urban design and community collaboration. Her work has earned recognition, including second place in the 2023 Tripoli Smart City competition and the prestigious ABWAB Commission at Dubai Design Week 2024. She also received the Graduate Student Award during her undergraduate studies. In addition to her architectural practice, Ola is actively engaged in research-driven art and curation, bridging urban design with cultural exploration to create inclusive and meaningful spaces.