Diego Velasco

Biografía: Diego Velasco is a Principal and Founder of Citythinkers, and Urban Design and Planning Firm based in San Diego, CA. With 20 years of experience in both urban planning and architecture, he maintains a comprehensive and interdisciplinary approach to design that makes him versatile and diverse in his skills. His planning work at ranges in scale and scope from Master Planned Communities to General Plans, Community Plans, Streetscape Design, Design Guidelines and Community Outreach. His work in architecture focuses on urban, infill housing and mixed-use. Currently, Diego consults with cities across the region to assist city planners in developing transit-oriented development strategies, implementing urban design standards and zoning codes, and educating community leaders in urban planning and design best practices. Diego is involved in his community on several levels. He is acting chair of the Urban Land Institute (ULI) San Diego/ Tijuana Technical Advisory Program, a former board member and prior President of C-3 (Citizens Coordinate for Century Three), and a Certified Planner with the American Planning Association (APA). Diego is a regular a speaker at ULI, Lambda Alpha, and APA events. He is also Adjunct Faculty at the University of California, San Diego, the University of San Diego and the NewSchool of Architecture and Design, where he teaches graduate and undergraduate city planning, urban design and architecture studio courses focused on critical planning areas in the City of San Diego. Professional Experience 1999-2004: Architectural Design of Urban, Infill Housing 2004-2007: Master Planning and Urban Design 2012-2014: Adjunct Faculty, NewSchool of Architecture and Design 2014-Present: Adjunct Faculty, University of San Diego 2019-Present: Adjunct Faculty, University of California, San Diego 2007-2019: Principal in Charge of Urban Design and Planning at M.W. Steele Group, Inc. 2019-Present: Principal at Cityhinkers