In The News

Daniel Parolek helps create the Form-Based Code Track at CNU 17

Join Opticos at the following sessions at the Congress for New Urbanism’s National Conference in Denver, June 10-13th, 2009. Daniel Parolek of Opticos worked with CNU to create the most comprehensive Form-Based Code Track of any conference in the country.
 

Achieving Sustainability Using Form-Based Codes and the Transect *
Governor's Square 14 Sheraton Hotel Denver
1550 Court Place, Denver, CO 80202
Thursday, June 11, 2009 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Form-Based Codes have proven to be highly effective tools for enabling communities to implement their sustainability goals in many aspects ranging from reducing carbon emission by promoting compact development to promoting green infrastructure, stormwater management, and the integration of agriculture into projects. In addition, the Organizing Principle of the Transect is being used to create systems and standards for everything from complete streets and sustainable infrastructure to standards that address complex environmental thresholds at a regional scale. This session will discuss how these tools are being utilized to effectively implement various aspects of sustainability. (Fees: Before May 8: CNU member: $135, non CNU-member: $205; After May 8: CNU member: $155, non CNU-member: $225)

Daniel Parolek, AIA,, Principal, Opticos Design, Inc.
Bry Sarte, Principal, Sherwood Design Engineers
Leslie Oberholtzer, Director of Planning, Farr Associates
John Hitchcock, Planning and Evaluation Branch Chief, Tahoe Regional Planning Agency
 

CNU's New Tools for Low-Carbon/High-Performance Development
Governor's Square 15 Sheraton Hotel Denver
1550 Court Place, Denver, CO 80202
Friday, June 12, 2009 4:15 PM - 5:30 PM

Current climate planning needs better tools for showing how urban design and development locations impact energy use, greenhouse gas emissions, and other environmental factors. New urbanists are developing an approach based on place-types as this breakthrough tool. Learn about the CNU model, which shows how recognizable place types are the building blocks of regions that determine resulting VMT and other aspects of environmental and energy performance.

Daniel Parolek, AIA,, Principal, Opticos Design, Inc.
Joe DiStefano, Associate, Calthorpe Associates
Victor Dover, Principal, Dover, Kohl & Partners
 

Today's Best Form-Based Codes
Governor's Square 15 Sheraton Hotel Denver
1550 Court Place, Denver, CO 80202
Saturday, June 13, 2009 9:45 AM - 12:30 PM

A well-written form-based code can ensure that the community vision is actually what gets built. This session includes an awards presentation and in-depth analysis of the 2009 Driehaus Form-Based Code Award winners. Discover the exemplary features of each winner, and hear about the lessons learned from the winning communities.

Carol Wyant, Executive Director, Form-Based Codes Institute
Mary E. Madden, Principal, Ferrell Madden Lewis, LLC
Peter Park, Manager, Community Planning and Development, City of Denver
Daniel Parolek, AIA,, Principal, Opticos Design, Inc.
Sam Poole, Shareholder, Berger Singerman Attorneys