We are urban designers and architects who believe in the transformative power of beautiful, sustainable, walkable communities for all.
Missing Middle Housing
Walkable, attainable communities people love to call home
Opticos principal Daniel Parolek inspired a new movement for housing choice in 2010 when he introduced the concept of the “missing middle” in American housing. Today, Opticos creates innovative architectural designs to help build walkable communities with unique, diverse housing choices that are attainable for all.
Zoning codes for
people-centered places
Opticos is a world leader in zoning reform for walkable, sustainable communities. We didn’t create form-based coding, but we’ve been trailblazers in the field for more than 20 years. We are experts in understanding how the form of buildings will shape community spaces, and we can simplify the process of introducing form-based codes with a predictable build-out.
We Can Help By
Featured Projects
Bungalows On The Lake at Prairie Queen: A Missing Middle Neighborhood
Papillion, Nebraska
Downtown Davis Specific Plan + Form-Based Code
Davis, CA
Culdesac Tempe: A Car-Free Neighborhood
Tempe, Arizona
Memphis 3.0 Comprehensive Plan
Memphis, TN
Vallco Town Center Specific Plan
Cupertino, CA
Daybreak Mews Homes™
South Jordan, Utah
Town Square and Beachfront Master Plan
Seaside, Florida
Citywide Place Types Strategy and Form-Based Code
Cincinnati, Ohio
Downtown Davis Specific Plan + Form-Based Code
Davis, CA
Memphis 3.0 Comprehensive Plan
Memphis, TN
Vallco Town Center Specific Plan
Cupertino, CA
Citywide Place Types Strategy and Form-Based Code
Cincinnati, Ohio
Bungalows On The Lake at Prairie Queen: A Missing Middle Neighborhood
Papillion, Nebraska
Culdesac Tempe: A Car-Free Neighborhood
Tempe, Arizona
Daybreak Mews Homes™
South Jordan, Utah
Town Square and Beachfront Master Plan
Seaside, Florida
Recent Awards
Kauaʻi Kākou General Plan Daniel Burnham Award for a Comprehensive Plan
Kaua'i General Plan
Kaua’i, HI
Kauaʻi Kākou General Plan Outstanding Plan Award
Kaua'i General Plan
Kaua’i, HI
Latest From Opticos
On the boards:What we're working on
Iowa City Form-Based Code Analysis
Iowa City, IA
Downtown San Rafael Precise Plan
San Rafael, California
Nystrom Village Conceptual Master Plan
Richmond, California
Courtyard Infill Housing
Ralston, NE
An Agile, Cost-Competitive, Alternative Approach to Class A Multifamily Living Using Missing Middle Housing, Part 2
Case Study: Bungalows on the Lake at Prairie Queen, Papillion, NE
20 Years and Counting!
2020 has not been the year any of us expected. While we all do our part to confront this year’s challenges, it’s also important to take time to rest, to rejuvenate, and to celebrate. In that spirit, we hope you’ll join us to take a minute to celebrate Opticos’s 20th Anniversary, including the work of our past and current team, colleagues, and innovative clients, as well as look toward the future.
Building Types in Zoning, Part 2: Where?
As established in Part 1 of this series, we understand why it’s important to use building types. Now, let’s get into the next question: where? This post focuses on where building types are most effective, where they could be helpful but aren’t necessary, and where they are not necessary and should not be used.