Community planning and engagement is a transformative process that empowers residents, builds social capital, and creates more resilient and vibrant communities. Ce Planning Studio can add value to your project by preparing development plans, facilitating small and large public engagement sessions, and designing quality spaces and neighborhoods. We assist municipalities, property owners, and developers through design, inclusive visioning, placemaking, design regulations, and community planning.
Owner, Carolyn Esswein, is a Fellow of the American Institute of Certified Planners (FAICP) in recognition of her extensive impact on neighborhoods and efforts to advance the planning profession. She is the 5th person in Wisconsin to earn this recognition and the only female in WI. Carolyn has 3 decades of experience working with communities and private sector clients throughout the Midwest. She brings a broad, yet detailed, perspective to a variety of project scales. Carolyn has served in leadership roles on several boards, including: Harbor District Inc, APA-WI, CNU-WI, and the Wauwatosa Downtown Planning Committee.
Education: Masters in Architecture and a Masters in Urban Planning from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, B.S. from University of Wisconsin-Madison. Congress for New Urbanism (CNU-A).
When she's not working with communities, Carolyn finds inspiration by exploring great places through travel and recharging in a kayak or on a bike. In addition to her professional practice she is an Associate Professor at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee's School of Architecture and Urban Planning, where she also served 11 years as Director of Community Design Solutions. Earlier in her career, Carolyn was an Associate at GRAEF and a Principal and part owner of Planning & Design Institute, Inc.