Project Use Type: Class-A Multifamily
Client: FIDES Development
Location: Norcross, GA
Property Size: 3.6 Acres
Building Scale: 533 – 1,353 SF (per unit)

Services Provided:
– Civil Engineering Planning
– Infrastructure Planning Management
– Geotechnical Coordination Services
– Stormwater Analysis Services
– Fire Flow Verification
– Sewer Capacity Studies

Unique Solution:
 Managed 50 feet of vertical relief by submerging portions of the first two floors, utilizing the building’s foundation walls to eliminate the need for costly exterior retaining systems.

Case Study - Elevating Efficiency at The Perry Residences

Context & Services

For The Perry Residences, a 160-unit Class-A multifamily community in Norcross, GA, we served as the innovative infrastructure partner. We provided comprehensive civil engineering, infrastructure planning, and permitting. Our “base scope” included utility sketches, geotechnical coordination, and stormwater analysis, alongside specialized residential services such as fire flow verification, sewer capacity studies, and site layout for premium amenities.

The Unique Solution

Residential developers often face high-stakes anxieties regarding economic volatility and design scope creep. At this site, we encountered a significant technical hurdle: 50 feet of vertical relief across the parcel. Traditional grading would have required massive, costly retaining walls, a subsurface risk that often triggers budget overruns.

Instead of a standard approach, we anticipated the financial impact and proposed a creative architectural-civil hybrid: submerging portions of the first two floors. By using the building’s own foundation walls to manage the grade, we eliminated the need for extensive exterior retaining walls. This choice reflected our commitment to craftsmanship and value-focused design, acting as a true advocate for the client’s bottom line rather than just following a standard template.

Success & Impact

This strategic maneuver delivered a hard-data win, saving several hundred thousand dollars in construction costs and trimming several months off the project schedule. Beyond the metrics, it provided the developer relief from the hidden costs of mountainous site work, ensuring this 2023 delivery met its high-density goals with precision.