6 January 2021

Project InFocus: Towne Lake

Towne Lake Master Planned Community
Harris County, Texas

EHRA Engineering creates thoughtfully planned, sustainable and dynamic residential communities, providing creative solutions to challenges and a beautiful setting to call home.

In 2006, Caldwell Companies sought to create Towne Lake as a community where residents and services could be connected by water. Their vision included boat docks and marinas augmenting traditional walking trails to navigate a vibrant residential community. EHRA was the perfect partner to take Caldwell Companies’ vision and create this livable suburban oasis.

The result is a 2,400-acre master-planned community in Cypress, Texas which was awarded ‘GHBA Master Plan Community of the Year’ in 2019 and voted ‘Best of the Best Community’ by The Houston Chronicle in 2020.

Chris Browne, Vice President and Practice Area Leader for EHRA served as important oversight for planning and platting. “EHRA was thrilled to be a part of this project,” said Browne. “It allowed us to combine our creative knowledge and technical expertise to deliver a wholly unique, modern and beautiful residential area.”

EHRA transformed required on-site detention into navigable waterways, creating an amenity out of necessity. This repurpose takes full advantage of its 300-acre stormwater detention basin, providing a unique  lifestyle for residents and waterfront ambiance forbusinesses and visitors. The recreation and transportation aspects afforded by the lake have formed the backbone of this thriving community.

From a client perspective, Caldwell Companies was pleased with the diligence the EHRA team brought to this effort. Peter Barnhart, Executive Vice President and Partner said “EHRA employs engineers with the highest sense of urgency I have ever found.”

The Boardwalk at Towne Lake is a waterfront mixed-use development with restaurants, retail and professional services accessible from  the community’s lake. Visitors may drive to the site, but residents can arrive at the Boardwalk by water taxi, private boat or golf cart. Upon arrival, all guests find a  vibrant shopping and dining experience featuring walkability and live events.

EHRA Engineering provided surveying, community master planning, platting, design engineering, municipal utility district creation, and construction management services throughout the project.