Opticos Design, Inc.

Opticos Design, Inc. Opticos has the experience and expertise to help you make your vision a reality, whether you’d like to create a building, a neighborhood, or a town.

Imagine a place where children ride their bikes to school. Picture a community where neighbors walk to the corner grocery and meet at local parks and where urban spaces are interconnected through public transportation. Pair this ideal with an architecture that is rooted in the history, climate, and culture of a place. The result is a community where people of all ages, backgrounds, and incomes wan

t to live, work, and play. Opticos has the experience and expertise to help you make this vision a reality, whether you’d like to create a building, a street, a neighborhood—or an entire town. Blending the best from the past with the most innovative ideas of the present, our multidisciplinary approach results in state-of-the-art projects that are contextually rich, architecturally solid, and aesthetically appealing. From designs for individual buildings to regional master plans, whether we’re making new neighborhoods or revitalizing old spaces, we create custom-made solutions that directly address the architectural, cultural, and sustainable needs of communities. In the process, we form lasting partnerships with clients. We also practice what we preach. In 2007, we officially became one of the first B Corporations, and in 2012, one of twelve initial California Benefit Corporations, a revolutionary new kind of business that equally integrates environmental, social, and fiscal responsibility into decision making. That commitment informs every project we select and each choice we make—both professional and personal. We don’t just ask others to go car-free; we bike, walk, or take public transit to our office that’s located in a mixed-use urban center. We’re the first to admit that we’re far from perfect, but we are trying to make a difference. We shop locally, live small, and work responsibly. These decisions inform our work at every level, and as a result, we are proud to help create communities that thrive and buildings that withstand the test of time.

Turning Housing Vision into ActionOur Toolkits and Playbooks help communities move from big housing goals to clear, impl...
05/28/2026

Turning Housing Vision into Action

Our Toolkits and Playbooks help communities move from big housing goals to clear, implementable steps. Designed for both regional coalitions and individual cities, these tools translate policy, zoning, and market analysis into practical strategies that can actually be delivered.

At the regional scale, toolkits support shared learning across jurisdictions while remaining flexible enough for local context. At the citywide scale, playbooks provide a place based roadmap that aligns zoning, incentives, and investment with neighborhood character, feasibility, and equity.

Whether guiding Missing Middle Housing, zoning reform, or displacement aware growth, our toolkits and playbooks give cities a clear path from planning to real change.

Our Chicago team recently completed a Housing Playbook with the City of Cincinnati Dept of Community and Economic Development (DCED) and a Missing Middle Peer Network and Toolkit for 18-municipalities across the Chicago Metro Area.

We’re excited to share a project we’ve been working on: Civic Center Apartments, funded through the City of Richmond and...
05/22/2026

We’re excited to share a project we’ve been working on: Civic Center Apartments, funded through the City of Richmond and the California Department of Housing & Community Development’s Homekey Program.

This conversion of a 1950s Travel Lodge, most recently Motel 6, directly adjacent to the Richmond Civic Center, transforms a tired motel into permanent supportive housing with 48 studio units plus a 1‑bedroom for a live‑in manager.

Working with existing buildings means working with the unknown. We collaborated closely with the City of Richmond and our contractor to resolve unforeseen conditions, while bringing the building up to current standards: 3 fully accessible units, new guardrails, and updated energy compliance.

The goal was to make a motel feel like a home through updated finishes, individual prefabricated kitchenettes (via Kit Switch) in every unit, a community kitchen, and new landscaped outdoor gathering spaces. We stayed true to the building’s midcentury roots by preserving the original “TL” railing detailing, and a public art mural on the tower will become a new landmark for the Civic Center Plaza.

This project provides homes for local residents who have experienced homelessness, with on-site offices for building management and service providers, and easy access to public transit, a new anchor for the Civic Center neighborhood.

Thank you to the full project team: Novin Development | Novin Construction | City of Richmond | Kit Switch | Fard Engineers | Element Structural Engineers | Beyond Efficiency | Hillmann Development Advisors, LLC

Turning ADU Policy into ActionTo help address Pittsburg’s housing shortage, our Urban Design team worked with the City t...
05/22/2026

Turning ADU Policy into Action

To help address Pittsburg’s housing shortage, our Urban Design team worked with the City to create an ADU Guidebook and Pre Approved Permit Set designed for clarity, speed, and real world use.

The guidebook walks homeowners through what an ADU is, how to design one, and how to navigate the local permitting process. Paired with that is a flexible 1+ bedroom pre approved ADU design, allowing for either one or two bedroom layouts that are simple to build, cost conscious, and ready to download and permit.

By aligning urban design, architecture, and local regulations, this project helps homeowners add housing for family, rental income, or aging in place, without starting from scratch.


Gabel Energy | |

CNU Charter Awards 2025 – Region, Metropolis, City & Town Sacramento’s Citywide Missing Middle Housing Strategy has been...
05/08/2026

CNU Charter Awards 2025 – Region, Metropolis, City & Town

Sacramento’s Citywide Missing Middle Housing Strategy has been recognized by the CNU Charter Awards.

This nationally significant initiative addresses housing affordability, displacement, and equity through inclusive, context‑sensitive zoning reform.

The strategy legalizes small‑scale multi‑unit housing (Missing Middle Housing) in every neighborhood and upper Missing Middle Housing nearer to transit, expanding housing choice while supporting walkability and neighborhood character using a “form-based” approach.

Opticos is proud to partner with the City of Sacramento and a strong multidisciplinary team on a strategy shaping a more equitable housing future.

Design‑Led Analysis Leads to New Ordinances to Expand Housing ChoiceIn Delray Beach, our Urban Design team partnered wit...
05/07/2026

Design‑Led Analysis Leads to New Ordinances to Expand Housing Choice

In Delray Beach, our Urban Design team partnered with the City and the Community Redevelopment Agency to explore how ADUs and Missing Middle Housing could fit into an established, diverse neighborhood without compromising character.

The ADU + Infill Housing Study tested seven prototypical lots and over 20 development scenarios, evaluating ADUs alongside duplexes, fourplexes, and cottage courts within the City’s R‑1‑A and RM zones. The work identified zoning barriers, illustrated what’s spatially feasible, and delivered data‑backed recommendations to support predictable, neighborhood‑compatible infill.

The study helped build strong local support for ADUs, and culminated in the adoption of a new ADU ordinance and other ordinances that make it easier for generational owners to develop their land and remain in the neighborhood.

The Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU) Charter Awards 2025 – The Neighborhood, The District & The CorridorThe Northern ...
05/05/2026

The Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU) Charter Awards 2025 – The Neighborhood, The District & The Corridor

The Northern South Park Neighborhood Plan + Code has been recognized by the CNU Charter Awards.

Led by Opticos Design, this project establishes a clear vision and new zoning for a 225‑acre site at the southern edge of Jackson, Wyoming, under Teton County jurisdiction.

The plan combines urban design and financial modeling to meet town and county housing goals, while remaining viable for property owners. The result is a framework for walkable neighborhoods and more attainable housing in a high‑cost resort community.

Opticos is proud to collaborate with , the , and an outstanding consultant team on a plan built for implementation.

, Crabtree Group, Inc. CharlierAssociates, Cambridge Systematics, Inc.

May is National Bike Month! Promoted by the League of American Bicyclists, this month celebrates the role biking plays i...
05/05/2026

May is National Bike Month! Promoted by the League of American Bicyclists, this month celebrates the role biking plays in creating safer streets, connected communities, and a healthier planet. At Opticos Design, we champion these values through walkable, bike-friendly communities like Culdesac Tempe in Arizona. Will you tag along for the ride?

Learn More Here: [link in bio]

Join us in welcoming Sakshi Nanda, our new Designer II in the Berkeley office!Sakshi is an urban designer and architect ...
04/13/2026

Join us in welcoming Sakshi Nanda, our new Designer II in the Berkeley office!

Sakshi is an urban designer and architect passionate about the intersection of history, architecture, and people‑centered public spaces. Shaped by her experiences living and working in India and the United States, her work spans historic urban landscapes, master planning, and transit‑oriented projects, with a strong focus on the public realm and everyday places that foster connection and belonging.

Prior to joining Opticos, Sakshi worked at ZGF Architects in Portland, supporting master planning and transit‑related projects grounded in community context. She brings a research‑informed, human‑scale approach to addressing city‑scale challenges.

Outside the studio, you’ll find her photographing streetscapes, exploring local markets, or cooking traditional North Indian cuisine. We’re thrilled to have her perspective and thoughtfulness on the team.

Here’s Sakshi’s MyFive:

1️⃣ Favorite tradition
Celebrating birthdays and anniversaries together, even across cities and time zones.

2️⃣ Favorite meal to cook
Palak Paneer and Pav Bhaji (friends and family say it’s superb!).

3️⃣ Advice for designers/architects
Keep the passion alive, keep making mistakes, and keep learning, it’s a long, beautiful journey.

4️⃣ Design inspiration
Walking and exploring neighborhoods and cities, experiencing places on foot reveals details you’d otherwise miss.

5️⃣ Favorite city visited
Prague for its rich history, diverse architecture, and urban form shaped by the Vltava River. Fun fact: one of her favorite Indian films, Rockstar, was shot there.

Congratulations to Roger Foreman, for his recent promotion to Associate I! Since joining Opticos in 2019, Roger has work...
04/03/2026

Congratulations to Roger Foreman, for his recent promotion to Associate I! Since joining Opticos in 2019, Roger has worked across nearly all project types, building broad expertise and a strong reputation for design excellence.

Driven to create more beautiful, humane, and sustainable cities, he brings a thoughtful, community‑informed approach to walkable, people‑centered places. Congrats again, Roger!

12/18/2025

As 2025 comes to a close, we’re taking a moment to celebrate the season and reflect on the connections that made this year so meaningful.

This time of year reminds us how much we value community—the ones we belong to and the ones we’re honored to work with. Thank you for trusting us to be part of your journey and for inspiring us every day.

Looking ahead to 2026, we’re excited for another year of collaboration, creativity, and building places and neighborhoods that bring people together.

Happy Holidays!
Sincerely,
Your Friends at Opticos

(Designed by Dylan Rumsey)

Address

2100 Milvia Street Ste 125
Berkeley, CA
94704

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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+15105586957

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