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Corporate Biography for Kenda Dawwami

Kenda Dawwami is an Austin-based entrepreneur and real estate expert currently serving  as the co-founder and co-president of Constructinople, a general contractor offering design and build services. In this role, she  employs her expertise in affordable housing on a diverse range of projects. She provides invaluable leadership, strategic vision, and forges partnerships across the real estate industry, financial institutions,  and within City of Austin staff. 

As the co-founder and co-president of Constructinople, Dawwami leads the team by examining the potential of lots and provides insights on how to create the maximum utilization of the space. She also leads the team with her extensive knowledge of affordable housing in Austin in order to secure city funds. She also establishes client and partnership relations.

Before founding the company, Dawwami had embarked on a journey of higher education, pursuing a degree in environmental engineering at Al Ba’ath University in Homs, Syria. Unfortunately, the eruption of the Syrian civil war in 2011 disrupted her studies, forcing her and her family to flee the country and seek refuge in the United States. Regrettably, she was unable to complete her engineering degree due to these circumstances.

Upon arriving in the United States, Dawwami encountered challenges during her transition, grappling with the distance from her family and the language barrier. Despite having studied English courses in university, she faced difficulties in mastering the language. Determined to overcome these obstacles, Dawwami proactively enrolled in English classes to enhance her language skills. Although her initial aspirations were in engineering, she decided to explore the real estate business. In 2016, Dawwami enrolled in classes to obtain her real estate license in the state of Texas. In December of 2016, she successfully completed her training and achieved her first sale in January 2017, marking the beginning of her real estate career.

Dawwami's commitment to improving the lives of others through affordable housing was sparked by a poignant visit to a recently displaced friend who relocated to the United States. Witnessing the deplorable living conditions her friend endured, alongside her four children, ignited a deep sense of compassion within Dawwami. Determined to make a difference, she initiated a campaign to collect gently-used appliances and furniture to donate to recently arrived refugees in the US.

This transformative experience, coupled with Dawwami's own positive experience in purchasing a home, kindled her passion for utilizing real estate as a catalyst for positive change in Austin. In 2017, she co-founded Constructinople, a general contracting firm with the mission of providing safe, well-constructed, and affordable homes for families that earn below the Median Family Income criteria. Constructinople was founded under Civilitude Group of Companies, now known as HEXAH.

As a hijabi woman in the real estate field, she strives to treat others with compassion and understanding, aiming to dispel misconceptions surrounding the hijabi culture. Apart from her professional endeavors, Dawwami embraces her role as a devoted wife and mother, setting an exemplary model for her two daughters, Lobana and Talia.

Dawwami's expertise extends to her role as a seasoned real estate agent at Keller-Williams, where she has served the greater Austin area for nearly seven years. Looking towards the future, Dawwami eagerly anticipates obtaining her broker's license and continuing to cultivate fruitful relationships with her clients. She also looks forward to furthering the mission of Constructinople via increasing the supply of affordable housing across Austin. For more information, please visit: www.constructinople.com.

SYNCHRONIZING CITY GROWTH WITH TECH TRENDS IN 2024: CIVILITUDE ENGINEERS & PLANNERS AT AUSTIN’S SXSW

Amid the whirlwind of events that is Austin with the convergence of spring break and the South By Southwest (SXSW) festival, we want to reflect on some standout events that epitomize innovation in the AEC industry and beyond.

ICON “Domus Ex Machina”

Last year during SXSW, ICON Technologies unveiled a 3D printed outdoor amphitheater outside of the Long Center, in which Civilitude Engineers and Planners was a partner on civil design and permitting. They also announced Initiative 99, a global design contest to build affordable homes for less than $99,000. This year at the “Domus Ex Machina” showcase, the winners were revealed and it was also shared that Wells Fargo would fund a $500,000 effort to bring to life these designs in the Community First! Village, owned and operated by Mobile Loaves and Fishes.

ICON also revealed a new printer, Phoenix, which expands printing capabilities by being able to print two-story buildings, foundations, and roofs. They also revealed a new generative AI tool called Vitruvius, which allows end users to create floor plans and renderings based on criteria like budget. While the prospect of new AI tools can feel overwhelming, we are confident that AI can be used as a helpful tool to the designers and engineers alike.

Civilitude Engineers and Planners is proud to have worked with ICON Technologies on a variety of exceptional, high-tech projects across the state of Texas, including their HQ, labs, and the Long Center Amphitheater.

Proptech House Panel

On March 13th, Civilitude Engineers and Planners President Nhat Ho spoke at the PropTech House on the “Smart Buildings and Cities, Reimagined” panel. Fellow panelists included Hannah Walker, COO of Sinclair Digital and Laura Patiño, Chief Resilience Officer for the City of San Antonio. This insightful group from a diverse set of backgrounds and career journeys covered topics like politics in local government, outdated land development codes, and how civic engagement can benefit us when it comes to tackling building our cities and urban centers.

Reflecting on Austin’s unique ecosystem, “I’ve found there is a really great community to engage in, but it also is a great place to be anchored in,” said Ho. He continued “Austin has been a really great place to try different things and be a catalyst for positive change.” 

The PropTech House also featured a panel titled “Real Estate Investment & Finance, Reimagined” which discussed the multitude of AI tools available to real estate professionals and how those technologies are poised to change the real estate industry.

Cheers to another successful SXSW festival! We are honored to attend these transformative events and eagerly anticipate Austin’s next chapter in ever-evolving progress and innovation.