— Richard Mitchell, Planning Director, Richmond, California"Opticos is unlike any other consultant I have worked with: They have come up with creative ideas that provide the ‘game changers’ that Richmond needs!"
Innovative. Passionate. Changemakers.
We believe in the transformative power of beautiful, sustainable, walkable communities for all.
Opticos is a team of urban designers, architects, and strategists who can help you find new solutions to the most challenging housing and community issues of our time. How do we build walkable communities that support social, mental and physical health while improving resiliency and promoting equity? How do we foster informed community conversation about local development and provide choice, attainability and affordability in the housing market? How do we help cities evolve, celebrating the existing community and avoiding unwanted gentrification? How do we encourage walkable communities in a car-centered culture?
We are the architects of a movement.
Opticos was founded in 2000 on the belief that walkable places are critical for healthy, resilient and equitable communities. Through that expertise, we introduced the concept of Missing Middle Housing, a transformative idea that highlights the need for diverse, affordable housing options in walkable urban places. In addition, we are leaders in the development of Form-Based Coding, zoning reform needed to make those walkable places a reality. Through our work, we are changing cities, communities and lives.
Mission-Driven Design
We are a founding B Corporation, which means we have pledged to run our firm with a focus on social, environmental and economic responsibility: a triple bottom line. This commitment informs everything we do, from the projects we work on to the pencils we use to do the work. And we work hard to practice what we preach – shopping locally, living small and biking, walking or taking transit to work.
Leadership Team
Daniel Parolek, Founding Principal
Karen Parolek, Founding Principal
Stefan Pellegrini, Principal
Tony Perez, Senior Associate
John Miki, Studio Manager
Alexandra Vondeling, Senior Associate
Jennifer Settle, Senior Associate (Chicago)
Megan Reineccius, Associate II (Chicago)
Mitali Ganguly, Associate II
Drew Finke, Senior Associate
Cecilia J. Kim, Associate II
Caroline Cochran, Associate I
Erick Bernabe, Associate I
Niklas Thorsrud, Associate I
Amanda Wiltz, Operations Manager
Megan Jennings, Finance & Risk Manager
Studio
Xenia Alygizou, Senior Designer
Singeh Saliki, Senior Designer
Joseph Abbamonte, Senior Designer
Russell Toler, Senior Designer
Daniel Grinspan, Senior Designer
Patrica Céspedes, Senior Designer
Roger Foreman, Designer II
Leigh Groninger, Designer II
Dylan Rumsey, Designer II
Kiara Gutierrez Forbes, Designer I
Amy Bruhmuller, Finance & Operations Coordinator
“It was a pleasure working with the staff at Opticos, not only for their experience and knowledge, but also for their creativity, sense of humor when needed, and resilient commitment to ensuring that the best possible final product was achieved despite budgetary limitations. Thank you for a job well done!"
“Opticos played a key role in guiding the Avalon Walnut Creek design team to solutions that bridged the gap between the intent of the community planning charrette, the formal architectural standards and the realities of construction. The end result is a project that the community and project owners can be very proud.”
Awards Highlights
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2024 APA California Award of Excellence for Planning Agency
City of Campbell-Planning Division, recognition of Opticos Design MFDDS
Campbell, CA
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2024 Mies Crown Hall Americas Prize Nominee
Culdesac Tempe: A Car-Free Community
Tempe, AZ
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2023 PCBC Gold Nugget Award of Merit
Best Multi-Family Housing Community - under 17 du/acre
Papillion, Nebraska
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2022 FBCI Form-Based Code Award
Multi-jurisdictional Objective Design + Development Standards
Marin County, California
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2021 APA Hawaii Outstanding Planning Award
West Kaua‘i Community Plan
Kaua'i County, HI
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2021 CNU Charter Award: Metropolis, City and Town
Memphis 3.0 Comprehensive Plan
Memphis, TN
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2021 CNU Merit Charter Award: Emerging Projects
Culdesac Tempe: A Car-Free Neighborhood
Tempe, AZ
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2020 NAHB Best in American Living™ Platinum Award for Game Changer
Culdesac Tempe: A Car-Free Neighborhood
Tempe, AZ
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2020 NAHB Best in American Living™ Judges’ Discretionary Award for Innovative Site and Content Strategies, Multifamily (Development up to 3 Stories, For Rent)
Bungalows On The Lake at Prairie Queen: A Missing Middle Neighborhood
Papillion, NE
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2020 Daniel Burnham Award for a Comprehensive Plan
Memphis 3.0 Comprehensive Plan
Memphis, TN
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2019 APA Tennessee Chapter Outstanding Plan Award
Memphis 3.0 Comprehensive Plan
Memphis, TN
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2019 Kauaʻi Kākou General Plan Daniel Burnham Award for a Comprehensive Plan
Kaua'i General Plan
Kaua’i, HI
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2018 Kauaʻi Kākou General Plan Outstanding Plan Award
Kaua'i General Plan
Kaua’i, HI
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2018 FBCI Driehaus Form-Based Code Award
Akanda SmartCode
Libreville, Gabon
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2017 FBCI Driehaus Form-Based Code Award
Nashville Downtown Code
Nashville, TN
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2016 National APA Pierre L’Enfant International Planning Achievement Award
Akanda Masterplan and SmartCode
Libreville, Gabon, Africa
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2015 Caltrans Excellence in Transportation Award: Highway as Main Street
Highway as a Main Street
Mono County, CA
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2015 Hawai’i APA Best Practice Award
South Kaua’i Community Plan and Form-Based Code
Kaua’i, HI
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2015 Hawai’i APA Outstanding Planning Award
South Kaua’i Community Plan and Form-Based Code
Kaua’i, HI
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2015 Texas APA Current Planning Award
CodeNEXT Land Development Code Update
Austin, TX
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2015 CNU Charter Awards
The Region: Metropolis, City, and Town Merit Award: Beaufort County, S.C., Community Development Code
Beaufort County, S.C.
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2015 FBCI Driehaus Award
Community Development Code
Beaufort County, SC
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2014 CNU Charter Awards
Grand Prize and Best Planning Tool or Process award winner: Cincinnati Citywide Form-Based Code
Cincinnati, OH
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2014 American Planning Association David Burnham Award for Comprehensive Plan
Plan Cincinnati
Cincinnati, OH
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2014 Driehaus Form-Based Code Award
Honorable Mention for the Cincinnati Citywide Form-Based Code
Cincinnati, OH
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2014 California APA Award of Merit
Comprehensive Plan – Small Jurisdiction: Petaluma Smart Stations TOD Master Plan and SmartCode
Petaluma, CA
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2013 B Lab’s 2013 B Corp Best for the Workers List
Honoring the top 10% of all Certified B Corporations in the world that have made a positive impact on their workforce
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2013 CNU Charter Award
The Neighborhood, District, and Corridor: Richmond Livable Corridors
Richmond, CA
Speaking Engagements
Speaking Nationwide
