What is OPISO?
op·is·o \op-is'-o\ adverb [Greek oπίσω] 1 of Place : behind, after; back, backwards 2 of Time : , after, in future, hereafter; either of a thing absolutely future, or of one which follows something else
To cite the classicist Bernard Knox, the ancient Greek word opiso means behind or back, but refers to the future instead of the past. The word suggests a perspective in which the past and the present are in front of us, and something that we can see, whereas the future remains invisible. In essence we proceed with the awareness of history, moving backwards into the future.
OPISO Studio is an architecture & preservation practice that embraces the emotion of design, the tracings of history, and the art of building.
Founder
OPISO Studio was founded by Jon Buono in 2024. Following a distinguished career including senior positions at SOM and BBB, Jon was inspired to create a collaborative, multi-disciplinary practice with a focus on culture and the built environment. OPISO Studio‘s work represents over 20 years of experience in the planning, restoration, design, and construction of award-wining buildings in rich contexts.
Before settling in New York City, Jon’s past included a childhood spent in a builder’s workshop, followed by an education in the humanities, and then a global pursuit of contemporary and historic design. His career includes the completion of over 300,000 SF of restored landmark interiors, 650,000 SF of adaptive reuse & new construction, and exterior restorations of buidings ranging from the 1850s to the current day.
Jon is currently licensed to practice architecture in the state of New York. His NCARB certification allows license reciprocity in all states, pending p[roject conditions. His portfolio of historic preservation work includes projects in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New York, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
Jon welcomes all inquiries! jon at opisostudio.com.