Proformus is the brainchild of Jeffery Tompkins, a Midwest-based urban planner and strategist. His experience as Design Director at the global architecture firm Meticulous instilled both a respect for large-scale vision and a conviction that lasting impact comes from smaller, more tactical moves. Sometimes, the most meaningful places are built by thinking small.

Founded as a counterpoint to today’s heavy-handed approach to city-building, Proformus champions incremental steps, block by block, parcel by parcel, where local residents and developers shape great places through modest interventions. Our services help clients navigate complexity and unlock projects:

• Entitlement + Zoning Strategy – crafting overlays, negotiating approvals, and aligning codes with development goals.

• Feasibility Studies – analyzing market fit, financial potential, and regulatory pathways to reduce risk.

• Urban Design Guidelines – shaping form, frontage, and public realm quality to enhance long-term value.

• Housing Prototypes – testing innovative models for attainable, incremental development.

• Neighborhood & District Plans – structuring phased, place-based frameworks for resilient growth.

• Tactical Placemaking – deploying small-scale interventions that activate sites and build momentum.

At its core, Proformus restores agency to city builders everywhere, from residents to municipalities. Every site holds latent value, and every neighborhood or building deserves design that respects its rhythm, its people, and its promise. Through precise, nimble, and place-based approaches, Proformus helps translate vision into action, building prosperous places and communities.