APTITUDE

Civilitude brings the full skill set of technical and permitting knowhow, positive working relationships with City staff, as well as experience in interfacing with neighborhoods and other community stakeholders. Because it is important for us to get things done right for the city of Austin.

OUR EXPERTISE

There’s a good reason Civilitude is one of the fastest growing firms in Austin. It’s our reputation for consistently bringing challenging projects to life. Clients count on us to uncover and bring to the table strategic information that identifies risks and opportunities that aid decision-making. Because for us, what matters is getting it done right everytime. We make a point of forging close ties to the community in which each project sits. During design and planning we’re tenacious about innovatively balancing the project’s objectives with the needs of the community. As a result, we’re helping Austin grow in a responsible way.

Green Framework & Infrastructure

Civilitude was an early adopter of low impact development techniques for stormwater treatment and controls that are essential in contributing to the green framework of the City beyond code requirements, one rain garden, and one cistern at a time. Our team members also actively engage at various Boards and Commissions that advocate for sustainability policies. The same commitment to high standards of practice is found in our work in utilities, sidewalks, trails, roadways, and parks.

Suburban Communities & Sites

Civilitude understands that the priorities that are native to suburban sites may differ from those of their urban infill counterparts. Through successful school, affordable housing, senior housing, industrial complex, and other residential and commercial projects adjacent to a nature preserve, near endangered species habitats, and nestled within critical environmental features, we understand the unique challenges of protecting our watershed, trees, and animals while creating high-quality living environments.

Infill Urban Development

Civilitude’s core reputation is our ability to deliver site permits in the challenging context of the Urban Core. We value the existing fabric of our neighborhoods, are capable of evaluating various infill products and tools, prepared to quickly navigate hurdles along the way, and most importantly, dedicate ourselves to achieving the site vision set out by our clients. Our staff brings in-depth knowledge in entitlements, utilities, transportation, environment, and permitting that carry projects all the way through Certificate of Occupancy.

High Density Development

Civilitude is proud to serve the heart and soul of central Texas-Downtown Austin. From zoning overlays, license agreements and density bonuses to congested subsurface utilities, complex traffic control, and a compressed timeline, the Civilitude team is tested and proven to deliver results for high demanding projects. Our principals played critical roles in one of the largest Downtown projects in Austin – the Greenwater Redevelopment – with public street extensions and four full blocks for high-rises.

K12 and Higher Education Expertise

Since our founding in 2010, public education facilities have been a part of Civilitude’s DNA. Our team is proud to have delivered on mission-critical projects and to be a trusted resource by many independent school districts and higher education institutions in Central Texas such as Austin ISD, Round Rock ISD, San Marcos CISD, Manor ISD, UT Austin, and St. Edwards University. Nhat Ho P.E., president of Civilitude, and the principal team are the go-to names for superintendent and construction management executives of the clients we serve.

Civilitude’s expertise includes complex site design, sequence-phases-site GMP’s planning, permitting and schedule acceleration, site entitlements, inter-local agreements, and new school site acquisition. Our extensive education facility experience spans new campus feasibility studies, ground-up modernization and major renovations, maintenance and operational related improvements, plus district-wide facilities and impervious cover assessments, bond-wide technical civil review and site permitting, and delicate community engagement support.

In 2017, Civilitude was AECOM’s trusted partner throughout the successful of implementation of the $1 billion Austin ISD bond. Currently, we are sitting on both AECOM and Jacobs Engineering teams for the 2022 Austin ISD bond of $2.44 billion.

SERVICES

The project assignment could be as large as subdivision plat documentation, or as small as a County driveway permit. We apply the same foresight, preparation and innovation to give our clients confidence in the project’s successful outcome. In the feasibility and scoping phase, we look for the best strategic options which enables us to foresee possible issues before they can derail a project

Land Development

Though the slate is often clean, turning the raw ground into marketable commercial or residential space presents many unique challenges, particularly when zoning or environmental variances are required. We guide a site from concept feasibility & proforma through land planning & road layout and into platting.

Site Development Plan

Generally, any building that is not a single-family home requires a Site Development Permit before a building permit is issued. The site plan addresses access, utility service, parking, erosion control, tree protection, stormwater detention, and water quality while complying with applicable development regulations. We identify the path of least resistance for the client and prepare, submit, and obtain approval for the site plan construction documents.

Subdivision

From subdividing a single residential lot into two lots to laying out a master planned community of over 300 lots with utility, drainage, roadway design, water & wastewater treatment plants, and multiple sections spread over several years, we help clients turn raw undeveloped land into marketable lots for the future.

Site Plan Correction

When a new tenant moves into a retail or commercial space it typically triggers a change of use, new parking requirements, water meter improvements, or TDLR review. We process minor revisions to the approved site development permit and make the transition smooth and timely for the property owner, property manager and tenant.

Project Administration

Like the seasons, our local construction industry is ever changing. Ensuring that a project is competitively bid and built as intended is important to our clients. Our job as your consultant need not end when plans are delivered – the real fun is just beginning. We solicit bids, manage change orders, attend inspections, provide construction oversight, prepare final punch lists, obtain warranty execution from the general contractor and complete project close-outs on behalf of our clients. When the paint dries, we want you to have confidence that the job was well done.

Permitting

Even the smallest projects can require complex permitting, especially if a site is located within multiple jurisdictions or within environmentally sensitive zones. We prepare, submit, and guide various types of permits through the approval process and keep a wary eye on the financial impact of review time and concessions for our clients.

General Permit Plan

City projects are typically permitted under the General Permit Program. They are reviewed and approved by a separate team. These projects typically involve utilities in congested subsurface areas and require careful utility coordination. Standard City Contract Documents are used to award and administer the projects.

District Engineering

In collaboration with an attorney, financial advisor and the developer, we prepare preliminary engineering reports to create a special district or governmental jurisdiction that enables it to levy taxes on current/future residents and pay debt service on bonds sold to finance new public infrastructure on large tracts of land. After the MUD/PUD is created, we prepare subdivision plans, administer bids & construction, and prepare bond election reports to justify expended costs for reimbursement to the developer through the sale of bonds.