Proformus is an urban planning firm that bridges data, design, and the built environment from the scale of the block to the city.

pro·for·mus [n.]

Origin: Neo-Latin, from pro (“for, in favor of”) + formus (from forma, “shape or structure”).

  1. For form; in favor of shape and structure.
  2. An urban planning firm that bridges data, design, and the built environment — from the scale of a single lot to the city.

Why the block?

Because it's the thing cities are made of. Zoom out far enough and every plan becomes an abstraction; zoom in to the block and planning gets real. Four corners, a handful of buildings, and the neighbors who share them.

It's also a promise about how we work. Big visions only earn trust when they can be built one block at a time. So that's how we think, draw, and deliver.

And yes, it's a toy. We lead with joy, and the best plans work like the best bricks: modular, adaptable, and made to be built on.

We think by block, four corners at a time.

Our work spans community engagement, development strategy, urban planning, and the codes and ordinances that shape them — from single infill sites to citywide frameworks. Every project draws on all four, because places don't separate their problems into disciplines.

See Our Work →

We don't talk at people to plan — we listen to them. Planning is both a technical framework and a cultural act, and our practice is built on placekeeping: honoring what a community already is while building toward what it wants to become.

Read Our Philosophy →

Cities aren't designed once — they emerge, block by block, decision by decision. Emergent Planning is our framework for working with that reality: rules that guide rather than restrict, strategies that adapt as neighborhoods reveal what they need next.

Discover Emergent Planning →
Northwest Landing Vision Plan // Indianapolis, Indiana

Northwest Landing Vision Plan // Indianapolis, Indiana
Mass Ave Next Plan // Indianapolis, Indiana

Mass Ave Next Plan // Indianapolis, Indiana
Urban Farms Toolkit // Fairfax, Virginia

Urban Farms Toolkit // Fairfax, Virginia
10th Street Traffic Calming // Indianapolis, Indiana

10th Street Traffic Calming // Indianapolis, Indiana
Rockville Zoning Code // Rockville, Maryland

Rockville Zoning Code // Rockville, Maryland
10EastArts Corridor Strategy // Indianapolis, Indiana

10EastArts Corridor Strategy // Indianapolis, Indiana
Infilling Carolina // Charlotte & Raleigh, North Carolina

Infilling Carolina // Charlotte & Raleigh, North Carolina
Freight Street District // Elkhart, Indiana

Freight Street District // Elkhart, Indiana
Danville Zoning Code // Danville, Virginia

Danville Zoning Code // Danville, Virginia
Thinking Big by Thinking Small // Chicago, Illinois

Thinking Big by Thinking Small // Chicago, Illinois
Community engagement illustration

Community Engagement

Community Engagement

We lead with joy to gamify and create memorable experiences that gather community input and aspirations — then combine this with geospatial mapping to understand physical ramifications.

 Development strategy illustration

Development Strategy

Development Strategy

We understand market and real estate conditions to project realistic, actionable scenarios for developers and municipalities — then actualize them.

 Urban planning illustration

Urban Planning

Urban Planning

We work in a design language to create and craft experiences for neighbors and municipalities — and enact implementable best practices.

 Codes and ordinances illustration

Codes & Ordinances

Codes & Ordinances

We work across the country with staff to balance resident priorities and development pressures, crafting development in its best form — and illustrating it in an accessible way.

Who we’ve worked with

How can we build together?

Great places don’t happen by accident — they are co-created. Proformus bridges the gap between policy, design, and the built environment. Whether it's a single lot or a neighborhood master plan, we help you make your places happen. Let’s talk. →