high-demand. The public loves these projects,” he says. “We rarely end up in contentious situations with communities. We work on projects people love.” But it’s not just the people who enjoy the finished projects adorned with BWM Group’s vision and expertise. Bargainer says the company’s ability to perform to the complete satisfaction of its customers is rooted in its own diverse capabilities. “The greatest strength of our firm is that we balance 50 percent of our work in the public sector and 50 percent is private-sector work,” he explains. “During awkward economic times, we have the ability to shift our focus one way or the other to capture profit or maintain stability. We have the depth and the knowledge and the expertise to do that. We’re a known entity in the marketplace.” Admittedly, things could have been different for Bargainer and his partners, Philip Wanke, principal, and Brian Binkowski, associate principal. But together with the staff in Round Rock — one Bargainer says is second to none in its professionalism and creativity — the decision to go with that gut feeling has left no regrets. What it has left is a list of satisfied clients, exemplary projects, and a company poised for growth and added successes in a world where developers, and their neighbors, are concerned about a project’s look and fit within the community, as well as the bottom line. “Landscape architecture is what BWM Group does,” adds Bargainer. “Whenever we come in on a project, we’re the ones wearing the white hats. That’s how we’re seen. Then, we green things up.” — Corporate Profile
company also provided construction drawings and bidding and construction administration for the trail’s first 2.5 miles, funded by the grant. In addition to earning the firm another ASLA award, BWM Group’s work on Phase I at Brushy Creek earned it a National Trails Planning and Design Award in 2004 through the National Park Service (NPS). The NPS has also bestowed National Recreational Trail status on the Brushy Creek system. Bargainer says the projects were funded in part by the first regional grant offered through the Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife. “They offered a new grant for the first phase in 2003 when we were doing the trail. Over time it’s become a very in-demand grant,” he says. “We applied for that grant and scored almost a perfect score, beating out cities like El Paso.” In 2008, BWM Group continued its role on the Brushy Creek project by offering its expertise on the project’s two-mile, $2 million third phase. BWM Group’s portfolio also includes the Berry Springs County Park and Preserve in Williamson County; the Texas X-Park in Leander, north of Austin; and the Garey Park Master Plan in Georgetown, Texas. Offering clients experience and balance Despite the scope and variety of the firm’s work, Bargainer says there are a few common themes. “The projects we work on are typically
102 E. Main, Ste. 200 Round Rock, TX 78664 512-238-8912 www.bwmgrp.com