PhD, CNU-A
Co-Founder & Principal
Korkut Onaran is an urban architect with a broad knowledge of development codes and regulatory cultures, a subject he explored extensively through his practice, teaching, and research. He has been exploring practical ways of creating resilient communities in the face of climate crisis with some of his ideas on this subject summarized in his most recent book titled Urbanism for a Difficult Future: Practical Responses to Climate Crisis (Routledge 2022). He also published the book titled Crafting Form-Based Codes: Resilient Design, Policy and Regulation (Routledge 2018).
Korkut formed Pel-Ona Architects & Urbanists with Ronnie Pelusio in 2010. He has extensive experience in designing and managing mixed-use projects, preparing master plans, and crafting development codes. Korkut has been teaching as an adjunct in the College of Architecture and Planning, University of Colorado at Denver, since 1997. His teaching focuses on form-based codes, urbanism, small town and tourism planning. He advocates achieving resilience via localization and community building. He was honored as the Mentor of the Year by AIA Colorado North in 2007. He is also one of the leading founders of the Colorado Chapter of the Congress for New Urbanism (CNU) of which he served as the President between 2008 and 2018.
Korkut earned both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Architecture from Middle East Technical University in Ankara, Turkey, and his Ph.D. in Environmental Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Early in his career, he received numerous awards in architectural competitions in Turkey, including first prize in the national “Small House” competition, second prize for a mixed-use downtown complex in Kuşadası, fifth prize for the Opera House and Performing Arts Center in Ankara, and fourth prize for an urban design competition to prepare a preservation master plan for the Citadel District in Ankara.
In addition to his architectural accomplishments, Korkut is also an accomplished poet. He received first prize for his poetry chapbook in the 2007 Cervena Barva Press Chapbook Competition and second prize in the 2006 Baltimore Review Poetry Competition. His poetry collections include The Trident Poems (W.E.R., 2018) and Istanbul’s Tulip (Word Tech, 2024).
PhD in Environmental Studies at University of Wisconsin-Madison
BA and MA in Architecture at Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey
College of Architecture and Planning, CU Denver – Assistant Professor Adjunct (1997 – Present)
City of Longmont Sustainability Advisory Board – Board Member (2024 – Present)
Longmont Symphony Orchestra, Board of Directors – Board Member (2022 – Present)
City of Longmont Planning Commission – Commissioner (2019 – 2021)
City of Longmont Historic Preservation Commission – Commissioner (2017 – 2018)
The Colorado Urbanist (journal published by CNU Colorado) – Editor (2009 – 2018)
Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU) Colorado Chapter – President (2008 – 2018)