Mario Planera is the co-founder and CEO of Planera + Reid, a respected Chicagoland architecture firm serving educational and municipal clients across the region. With more than four decades of architectural experience, Mario brings a depth of expertise spanning commercial, retail, multi-family, light industrial, and financial facilities.

Since 1991, his professional focus has centered on educational and civic projects throughout southern Cook and Will counties in Illinois, as well as northwest Indiana. Under his leadership, the firm has built a strong reputation for delivering community-centered design solutions rooted in collaboration, accountability, and long-term value.

Mario’s architectural career began in North Carolina, where he served as Project Architect and later as a principal at a firm with projects throughout Charlotte, Greensboro, Myrtle Beach, and Hilton Head. This early experience shaped his comprehensive understanding of project delivery, client relationships, and design leadership.

His portfolio includes extensive work for K–12, higher education, and municipal clients. Mario maintains a hands-on leadership approach, actively guiding projects while fostering teamwork and empowering staff at every level of the organization.

Mario is a Bloom High School graduate. He holds a Bachelor of Architecture in Design from the University of Illinois at Chicago and is a licensed architect in Illinois and Indiana.