Civithoughts
Our insights, thought leadership, musings — whatever you want to call it — you can find it here.
We cover topics like how to create highly livable and sustainable communities and promote intelligent design that permeates value across generations.
Here you can follow the issues, projects and ideas that speak to you.

MEET THE CIVITOTS: FOUR PRINCIPALS REFLECT ON FORTY YEARS OF CIVITAS
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In honor of the firm’s 40th Anniversary, we held a roundtable discussion with the four Civitas Principals to discuss the past, present and future of the company. ...

DESIGN ISSUES: THROUGH CONVERSATIONS COME SOLUTIONS
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As we enter 2023, conversations about equity, sustainability and health are more important than ever, writes Mark Johnson, who founded Denver-based design firm Civitas 40 years ago this year. ...

DESIGN ISSUES: A PEEK INTO CIVITAS’ CULTURE OF CURIOSITY – AND COFFEE DRINKING
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Civitas shares a peek into the award-winning landscape architecture and urban design firm’s unique culture, with some fun facts about the current team, and an invitation to join. ...

MEET THE CIVITOTS: ERIC DENARDO
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In Civitas’ latest edition of our blog series, Meet the Civitots, we introduce you to urban designer, Eric DeNardo, who brings an energetic and fresh approach to the next generation of city planners. ...

THE ARAPAHOE STEPS: GIVING GOLDEN, COLORADO, A PLACE TO GATHER
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Calvary Church wanted to build community and serve as the heart of Golden, Colorado, so Civitas envisioned The Arapahoe Steps that has since become a popular plaza and award-winning town square. ...

MEET THE CIVITOTS: MERINA IRFANO
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In our latest blog post, we introduce you to Civitas urban designer Merina Irfano, who is passionate about designing for people, making lives better and communities stronger. ...

WINDLER: CULTIVATING A VIBRANT FUTURE IN A NEW COMMUNITY
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Promoting a people-centric, green lifestyle, Windler is a new residential mixed-use development in Aurora, Colorado. Urban designers and landscape architects Civitas ask what if there’s a better way? ...

ARAPAHOE STEPS AT CALVARY CHURCH GOLDEN
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When the historic Calvary Church in downtown Golden, Colorado, was granted rights to develop a section of Arapahoe Street in downtown Golden, Colorado, they called Civitas to brainstorm. ...

LAKE MILADA
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Through more than a year of intense planning and design, and complex collaboration with a global team that Civitas co-led with 4ct during a global pandemic, we were able to develop a masterplan for the revitalization of the community encompassing Lake Milada. ...

DESIGN ISSUES: PROMOTING RECREATION AND PLAY IN PUBLIC SPACES
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At St. Patrick’s Island Park in Calgary, Alberta, Civitas helped to transform one of the city’s oldest yet abandoned parks into a thriving destination for hiking and biking, water play, concerts and events. ...

MEET THE CIVITOTS: KELLY WALLS
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THE HUB: EXTENDING THE OFFICE OUTDOORS
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While real estate vacancies loom, buildings with outdoor workspaces help to bring people back to the office. The Civitas designed roof deck at The Hub in Denver shows how. ...

DESIGN ISSUES: STRENGTHENING COMMUNITIES BY IMPROVING MOBILITY
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MEET THE CIVITOTS: SANDY HENDON
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In Civitas’ latest edition of our blog series, Meet the Civitots, we introduce you to business manager Sandy Hendon: an unsung hero without whom our firm literally would not function. ...

TWIN SILO PARK: HONORING A COMMUNITY’S CLOSE CONNECTION TO NATURE
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Learn how this award-winning 54-acre park took shape, celebrating the community’s connection to agriculture and farming through a wide variety of recreation spaces and amenities. ...

DESIGN ISSUES: ADDRESSING THE WATER CRISIS BY CONSERVING, CLEANSING AND RESTORING NATURAL SYSTEMS
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CIVITAS IN SAN DIEGO: CREATING BEAUTIFUL AND FUNCTIONAL SPACES THAT CONNECT PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES WITH THE WATER
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Central to Civitas’ purpose is our goal to create places that engage people with the land, and as a result, improve health, sustainability, and equity. In many places, water is as essential as the land. San Diego is one of those places, fortunate to have a strong connection to the water of San Diego Bay and the Pacific Ocean. ...

MEET THE CIVITOTS: HEATH MIZER
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In Civitas’ latest edition of our blog series, Meet the Civitots, we introduce you to landscape designer, Heath Mizer, who brings a thoughtful, academic approach to his award-winning design work. ...

DESIGN ISSUES: IMPROVING EQUITY BY ASKING, LISTENING AND LEARNING
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MEET THE CIVITOTS: JULIANA DE AFFONSECA
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TAMPA’S JULIAN B. LANE WATERFRONT PARK: RESTORING SOCIAL EQUITY BY REBUILDING A RIVERFRONT
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Since opening in 2018, the Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park has enriched the community and the water by engaging both – connecting them to each other – as a source of pride, recreation, relaxation and health. ...

MEET THE CIVITOTS: MARK NAYLOR
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MEET THE CIVITOTS: STUTI GANATRA
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PIKES PEAK PARK: A DESIGN-BASED APPROACH TO COLORADO’S AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS
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THE JONES CENTER: CREATING A PUBLIC SPACE THAT TELLS THE PUBLIC’S STORY
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Our vision plan for the Jones Center Campus in Springdale, Arkansas, is based on a similar process of listening and understanding. And yet this project is incredibly different, in a powerful way. ...

THE 5280 TRAIL: DESIGNING A MOUNTAIN TRAIL MENTALITY WITHIN THE CITY
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A trail is a path set through a wild environment, a guiding route to navigate you through and connect you to points of interest and destinations. ...

PAINTED PRAIRIE: UNDERSTANDING THE PAST TO CREATE A NEW STANDARD FOR THE FUTURE OF RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT
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WAYZATA’S 9/11 MEMORIAL: PERSONAL REFLECTIONS WITHIN PUBLIC SPACES
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As the 20th anniversary of 9/11 approaches, the City of Wayzata, Minnesota, and the Wayzata Conservancy are planning a memorial event in the recently completed Birch Grove within downtown Wayzata’s Lakefront Plaza. ...

DRAWING TOGETHER: WINNING SECOND PRIZE BY PUTTING CONNECTIONS FIRST IN AN INTERNATIONAL DESIGN COMPETITION
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CIVITAS REUNITED: WHEN AND HOW TO RETURN TO THE WORKPLACE
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THE JONES CENTER: FEEDING IDEAS AND CELEBRATING DIVERSITY TO BUILD COMMUNITY
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In Fall 2020, through the Walton Family Foundation’s Design Excellence program, Civitas was selected to create a vision for the whole 52-acre Jones Center campus with this goal in mind. ...

DENVER’S 5280 TRAIL: DESIGNS AND STRATEGIES TO MAKE PEOPLE AND PLACES HEALTHIER
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POST-PANDEMIC PERSPECTIVES: RETHINKING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CITIES AND GREEN SPACE
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The COVID-19 pandemic has taught us many lessons, not least of which is a reminder of our fundamental human need to get outside. After more than a year of getting reacquainted with our homes, our neighborhoods, and our cities, few will disagree that our urban spaces are too small, too disconnected, and too hardened ...

Civitas, Inc.
1200 Bannock St.,
Denver, CO 80204
303.571.0053
info@civitasinc.com
New Business
& Press Inquiries
Blake Booth Jordan
303.571.0053 x120
marketing@civitasinc.com
Katie Breest, Agency PR
kbreest@agencypr.co
Employment
Civitas is always looking for talented individuals to join our creative team. If you (or someone you know) is seeking a meaningful career in landscape architecture and urban planning, feel free send your resume to jobs@civitasinc.com. We hope to hear from you!
