A decade ago, we set out to deliver smart, reliable infrastructure solutions. Since then, we’ve tackled complex projects, strengthened communities, and built lasting relationships. Every challenge has pushed us to improve, and every success has been a team effort. We’re grateful to our clients, partners, and team for being part of this journey. Here’s to the next 10 years of solving problems and building better infrastructure together.
Explore our journey over the past decade with our company timeline below.
Aurora is founded by Rafael Ortega in Houston, TX
Post Oak Blvd Reconstruction - Richmond to IH610
Aurora served as the lead construction engineer and design consultant for the Uptown Development Authority. In this role, Aurora supported the Authority’s ongoing $150M construction program to reconstruct various infrastructures within the Galleria Area. The most notable project involves the reconstruction of over 9,000 LF of Post Oak Boulevard from Richmond Avenue to IH-610 with enhanced roadway, drainage, public access, intersections, crosswalks, landscape and hardscape. Utility improvements include the construction of 15,000 LF of 18" to 66" storm sewers (including storm sewer boxes varied in sizes), over 15,000 LF of 42” to 12” sanitary sewers and 18,000 LF of 12” water lines.
Northeast Transmission Line (NETL)
Aurora designed 8,000 LF of 108” water line along West Hardy Rd, using open cut and trenchless methods, including tunnel crossings at the Beltway 8 pipeline corridor, UPRR Railroad, and TxDOT frontage roads. Key challenges included proximity to an existing 84” water line, HVTL towers, and bridge settlement risks, which were addressed through design alternatives and mitigation measures. Aurora also designed 6,000 LF of 66” water line along West Hardy Rd, which included a major tunnel crossing at Beltway 8, Greens Bayou, and Greens Rd bridge, along with lane reconstruction, utility relocations, and sidewalk improvements. The design mitigated ground movement and lateral load risks from the bridge's shallow foundations.
IH-45 39” Water Line Relocation
Aurora provided design support services for the relocation of a 39” concrete transmission water line in League City due to conflicts with TxDOT's IH-45 South improvements. The firm evaluated alignment alternatives to avoid utility conflicts and ongoing highway construction, ultimately designing tunnels across IH-45 and SH-96 on an accelerated schedule to meet TxDOT's timeline. Aurora also managed construction-phase services, including the tunneling of 350 LF of 36-inch steel water line in a 48” casing and coordination for a 48-hour wet connection shutdown to maintain water supply. Despite high groundwater flow requiring phased deep well points, the project was completed on time and under budget.
Water System Condition Assessment and Prioritization
Aurora provided engineering support for developing a prioritization schedule based on a system-wide condition assessment of NHCRWA’s large-diameter water line system. Some of these water lines were critical to operations, and unplanned outages could impact reliability and redundancy as water demand increased and new sources came online. Aurora reviewed record drawings to evaluate and prioritize transmission system segments most in need of inspection. The team also identified appropriate inspection and testing technologies for each segment and provided recommendations to support a comprehensive condition assessment of NHCRWA’s system.
Vista Ridge Transmission Project, 54" and 60” Water Line
The project included 142 miles of large-diameter treated water transmission main, three pump stations, and a water treatment facility, with 54” and 60” pipelines delivering 50,000 acre-feet of water from the Carrizo and Simsboro Aquifers in Burleson and Milam Counties. It also helped protect spring flow habitat from the Edwards Aquifer while supporting the city's growing population. Aurora supported CP&Y by developing design standards, specifications, route studies, facility and pipeline design, and incorporating hydraulic and surge protection recommendations. Aurora also served as the design engineer for tunneling portions of the project, which crossed highways, railroads, high-voltage transmission corridors, and pipelines, including major river crossings at the Colorado, San Marcos, and Guadalupe Rivers. Using a Design-Build delivery method, Aurora provided constructability reviews and construction phase support for tunnel construction.
Project 31, Water Transmission Route Study and Alternative
Project 31 is part of NHCRWA’s efforts to reduce groundwater usage in northwest Houston to comply with a mandate from the Harris-Galveston Coastal Subsidence District. The project includes approximately 18 miles of water transmission line, starting at the future SH-249 Regional Pump Station and connecting to an existing 54” water line near Grant Road and N. Eldridge Parkway, serving 8 MUD districts and 14 water plants. Aurora provided program management support as the Authority’s Technical Advisor, conducted route evaluations and alternative alignment analyses, and completed the final design for Project 31A. The route evaluation followed a two-tier approach, first assessing all feasible alignments and then refining the preferred options, placing the water line along CenterPoint Energy corridors, Harris County road rights-of-way, Harris County Flood Control District easements, and dedicated easements.
On-Call Construction Management and Inspection Services
Aurora was selected to provide construction management and inspection (CM&I) services for Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) on post- Harvey flood mitigation projects, including channel improvements, bayou bank stabilization, and bridge reconstruction. Responsibilities included site visits, progress meetings, RFI reviews, submittal processing, field inspections, and construction project management. Key assignments included the $13M Addicks Desilting and Channel Modification, involving Buffalo Bayou stabilization, Langham Creek lining replacement, and Bear Creek repairs; the $1M White Oak Bayou Flood Control Project, covering channel repairs, outfall reconstruction, and flood mitigation; and bridge replacements at Ardmore, Stella Link, and Greenbriar ($4M each), where Aurora managed foundation construction, column and bent cap installation, and precast beam and deck slab placement.
On-Call City-Wide LDWL Work Order - Engineering Support and Asset Management
The City of Houston’s Drinking Water Operations (DWO) identified a need for engineering support for its large-diameter water lines (LDWL) of 24” or more in diameter, to be authorized via work orders. The City selected Aurora to evaluate and assess the existing LDWL infrastructure and related appurtenance issues. Aurora’s responsibilities include on-call engineering support design services for LDWL repairs, identifying valving for isolation, coordinating material procurement and field repairs, assisting as the Owner’s representative for construction management and inspection (CM&I), supporting on-call rehabilitation and repair, conducting condition assessments, and providing CIP planning and technical engineering support. Additional services include design standards, and GIS mapping/modeling support.
Project 25D, 84" Water Transmission Line
Aurora designed approximately 9,300 LF of 84” WL along easements and HVTL corridor, from Plaza Verde Dr to 2,300 LF west of Sharmon. This multi-year project transports water from Houston’s Northeast Water Purification Plant (NEWPP) to a new SH 249 Regional Pump Station and Storage Facility. The scope included multiple tunnel crossings of BW8, high-voltage transmission lines, and gas/petroleum pipelines, as well as crossing the active Woodgate fault. Aurora conducted an alternate route evaluation, resulting in an approved alignment that shortened the BW8 tunnel crossing and minimized impacts on private properties and recent developments. The project included a meter station situated on the 84” line.
Bay Area Transmission Line (BATL/SETL Contract D), 36-inch Water Line
The Bay Area Transmission Line (BATL) Project is part of Houston’s replacement of the aging Southeast Transmission Line (SETL). The project involves 14,500 LF of 36” water line, including 12,000 LF of open cut and 2,600 LF of tunneling, along with smaller 24”, 20”, and 12” connections for water plants and local distribution. The alignment crosses 24 pipelines, a railroad, and two TxDOT highways (I-45 & Hwy 3), requiring coordination with multiple agencies. It also crosses Bay Area Blvd and runs parallel to an HCFCD drainage channel, incorporating additional design considerations for regulatory compliance.
Aurora Acquires Texas American Engineering
This merger combines two client-focused, multi-disciplinary civil consulting firms with shared values with a commitment to providing clients with excellence, innovation and engineering solutions that work.
Project 35 Route Study and Program Management
The project covers approximately 6.5 miles of WLs, ranging from 30” to 12” in diameter, starting from an existing 30” WL east of BW 8 to an existing 24” WL west of Fallbrook Dr. It connects the NHCRWA’s surface water system to six utility districts and ten water plants. Conducted in a developed urban area, the project navigates residential subdivisions, dedicated easements, major roadways, HCFCD bayou ROW, and pipeline and CenterPoint Energy corridors. Aurora managed four design segments, overseeing scheduling, contract negotiations, budget tracking, public information meetings, technical support, design standards, environmental permitting, regulatory coordination, parcel acquisitions, and coordination with public agencies.
78” W-1 Leon Creek Sewer and 42” E-4 Outfall System Renewal
SAWS planned a new 78" sewer for the W-1 Leon Creek system from Highway 151 to Highway 90 and a 42" E-4 sewer outfall from Loop 1604 to Redland and Bulverde Rd., upgrading substandard sewers with new alignments and outfalls. The project included 1.5 miles for W-1 and 1 mile for E-4, with eight tunnel segments crossing Leon Creek, highways, and roadways using 78" to 42" FRP with 96" to 54" casing. Aurora provided engineering support for tunnel crossings, including geotechnical review, constructability analysis, casing and liner plate calculations, depth of cover assessments, trenchless construction scheduling, and tunnel construction specifications.
Westpark Drive Widening and S. Post Oak Lane Reconstruction
This project is part of the Uptown Development Authority's roadway construction program in the Houston Galleria Area. Work on Westpark Drive included widening and reconfiguring the roadway from South Rice Boulevard to IH-610, boulevard improvements, bus platform modifications, and installation of a Metro surveillance and communication duct bank. S. Post Oak Lane involved reconstructing 1,500 LF of pavement, widening N. and S. Wynden Dr., installing storm sewers, streetlights, sidewalks, a new traffic signal at Longmont Dr., and relocating overhead utilities underground. Aurora serves as the Lead Construction Engineer, managing field services, inspections, testing, construction protocols, RFIs/submittals, contractor negotiations, and construction phasing. Both projects are near completion.
Project 23 Route Study and Design
The project consists of approximately 5 miles of 66” water transmission line and a proposed future pump station. The project begins with a connection to a new City of Houston 66” water line north of Greens Road at West Hardy and a meter station, currently under construction. Project 23 terminates at the proposed pump station site south of Westfield Road at East Hardy Road and will supply treated surface water to eight MUDs and related multiple water plants for both the City of Houston and NHCRWA.
Woodlands Wastewater Consolidation Study
The project is an engineering study to assess the feasibility of consolidating two wastewater treatment facilities and their collection systems in The Woodlands, primarily serving residential areas. Research, data collection, field reconnaissance, and condition assessments were conducted to evaluate the existing facilities, which have a combined design storm flow of approximately 40 MGD. Four alternative sites were identified for a consolidated treatment plant, with conveyance alternatives developed to maximize gravity flow.
San Antonio Office Opens
Aurora announces the opening of a new office in San Antonio, TX.
Project 37 Route Study and Program Management
The primary scope and objective of Project 37 is to determine feasible routes for approximately 240,000 LF of water line. The project includes the elimination of the West Pump Station, with a focus on maximizing the existing system’s utilization to meet the western area's conversion needs. The new system will originate from the authority's existing Project 6B-2 and Project 28 near the intersection of Grant Road and Malcomson Road, extend north of Little Cypress Creek, and terminate near Mason Road and HC MUD 358. The project includes 22 Gulf water plants, fault crossings, and four major natural drainage crossings. During the design phase, Aurora's responsibilities include the management of 10 design consultants. Construction costs are estimated at approximately $240 million and involve acquiring around 700 easements.
Wilson’s Gulley Storm Sewer Repairs
Aurora is providing construction phase services including daily site visits to evaluate contractor adherence to all safety regulations and construction design plans, responding to contractor RFIs pertaining to construction designs, and reviewing contractor submittals pertaining to trenchless construction and construction materials. These submittals included reviewing tunnel shaft designs based on soil conditions and material calculations, reviewing tunnel work plans involving liner plates, grouting, tunnel shields, and sequencing for compliance with specifications and best practices.
TMC/Melrose/Market Water Line Replacements
This project involves the design and replacement of approximately 140,000 LF of water lines with all related appurtenances in the Texas Medical Center (TMC), Melrose Park Neighborhood, and I10/Market Street areas. Design challenges include highway, railroad, pipeline, channel crossings, and replacement or abandonment of existing waterlines in the area. The purpose is to replace and upgrade water lines within the City to increase availability of water and improve circulation.
SAFER Feasibility Study
Aurora is leading the engineering study on the Cypress Creek and Little Cypress Creek watersheds. The study aims to identify flood reduction strategies that integrate with Harris County’s existing stormwater network to improve flood protection and resilience. Aurora’s role includes data collection, GIS analysis, hydrology and hydraulics coordination, conceptual development, and technical reporting. Additionally, Aurora is leading cost estimation efforts across all watersheds, including baseline cost development, real estate considerations, and relocation assessments.
