Lawrence Group’s Austin office is proud to serve as the design architect for upgrades to the pedestrian bridge and surrounding site at the historic Elisabet Ney Museum in Downtown Austin, TX.
Located at 304 East 44th St., the Elisabet Ney Museum was once the home and studio of renowned German sculptor Elisabet Ney. The 3,700-square-foot museum and surrounding grounds stand as a cultural landmark celebrating her legacy since settling in Austin in the late 1800s.
The Elisabet Ney Museum is listed as a Texas State Archeological Landmark Site, an Austin Historic Landmark, and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places based on its significance as the former American studio of Elisabet Ney.
The museum was closed to the public in December 2024 for much needed interior and exterior renovations, which include replacing the pedestrian bridge across Waller Creek and updates to the historic landscape around the museum. The site work also includes approx. 20,000 square feet of Waller Creek bank stabilization.
Partnering with Austin-based structural engineering firm Structures, Lawrence Group designed a new 65-foot-long, prefabricated steel truss bridge to replace the museum’s outdated, dimensional lumber bridge over Waller Creek. Installed on Sept. 23, 2025, the new pedestrian bridge will be painted white and it rests on a pair of oval-shaped concrete piers that direct water around the bridge’s foundation. The new bridge is also designed at a higher elevation than the old bridge to promote better water flow during flooding events. Its decking is made of durable, 4×8 treated cypress planks that will extend the lifespan of the bridge.
In addition to designing the bridge, Lawrence Group collaborated closely with civil engineering firm Doucet to develop new approach pathways to the bridge that enhance site accessibility, and identified new landscape beds on the north side of the bridge to support both beautification and visual identification of the structure.
“The landscape rehabilitation plan and pedestrian bridge upgrades aim to enhance accessibility and the visitor experience while preserving the museum’s historic character,” said Lawrence Group Managing Principal Luma Jaffar, AIA, RIBA, LEED BD+C. “Due to the site’s historical significance, we were sure to pay careful attention to any environmental sensitivities and historical preservation throughout the bridge’s design process.”
The museum is expected to reopen to the public in Fall 2026.
Watch the installation process, documented by our partner at Phoenix 1 Restoration and Construction LLC: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1DbTYjqKZA/