Before and After: Burnet Place

As cities across the country grapple with housing challenges, the need for solutions that pair thoughtful design with a clear social mission has never been greater. Before Burnet Place, a vacant site in Austin's Brentwood neighborhood sat with limited grade change and no underground storm infrastructure along Brockman Street, offering no path toward the stable, service-rich housing Central Texas needed for one of its most vulnerable populations. WGI delivered Civil and MEP Engineering services to help turn that site into a model for what supportive housing can be.

A Mission-Driven Development

Developed by Project Transitions, a nonprofit that has provided home, health, and hope to people living with HIV for more than 25 years, Burnet Place was conceived as far more than typical affordable housing. It's a supportive residential community designed to promote healing, foster independence, and sustain long-term stability for residents at risk of homelessness.

The three-story, 61-unit property features one-bedroom apartments arranged around shared spaces that encourage connection: a central courtyard with gardens, flexible seating for individuals and groups, and a lawn for community events. Trauma-informed design and on-site supportive services ensure daily life is stable, respectful, and restorative.

Engineering for People and Purpose

WGI's civil team shaped the site for durability, safety, and ease of operation by demolishing the existing structure, designing new water and wastewater utilities, and handling paving, grading, and drainage. The team collaborated closely with the City of Austin to secure site development permit approval through a complex regulatory pathway. Limited grade change and the absence of underground storm infrastructure along Brockman Street called for an inventive stormwater strategy: WGI designed a full infiltration rain garden to treat runoff from the eastern portion of the site and route flows around the building toward Burnet Road, along with a second full filtration rain garden to strengthen water quality and resilience.

WGI's MEP team designed building systems to elevate sustainability, comfort, and reliability while controlling operating costs. High-efficiency HVAC and lighting systems reduce energy consumption and improve the indoor environment. Instantaneous water heaters deliver on-demand hot water without bulky storage tanks, maximizing space and performance. Every system was selected with residents in mind, supporting long-term housing stability for people who deserve reliable, dignified homes.

A Visible Difference

Burnet Place opened in September 2024, giving Central Texans living with HIV a stable, service-rich place to call home. The development's design excellence earned a 2025 Texas Society of Architects Annual Design Award, selected from more than 300 statewide submissions and one of just 19 honored projects, with recognition in the Awards and Expo issue of Texas Architect magazine.

The award reflects a dual achievement: architectural excellence paired with measurable social impact, and WGI is proud to have contributed the engineering expertise that helped bring it to life.

See the Impact WGI Can Make

Burnet Place shows what's possible when mission-driven nonprofits, skilled designers, and experienced engineers align around a shared purpose. At WGI, we believe engineering should serve people first, whether that means delivering supportive housing, enhancing public infrastructure, or reimagining community spaces.

Learn more about how WGI approaches mission-driven development and connect with our team today.