DALLAS-FORT WORTH — As Burns & McDonnell works to support the significant growth of municipal, industrial and construction markets across the Southern U.S., the firm has promoted Chitra Foster to lead its Water Group in the Dallas-Fort Worth region. Foster, who previously served as a senior project manager in the Construction/Design-Build Group, has nearly 25 years of international experience in engineering, construction and project management for water and wastewater infrastructure projects.

“Critical infrastructure improvement needs are at an all-time high in Texas, with power distribution, energy generation, and water/wastewater among the state’s largest and fastest-growing industries,” says Scott Clark, vice president and general manager of Dallas-Fort Worth offices for Burns & McDonnell. “Chitra’s drive and talent are immeasurable. Her diverse experience, strong technical skills and construction background make her the ideal leader to guide our integrated design-build regional water team.”

With plans to strategically expand its business and team to meet the needs of rapidly growing markets throughout Texas, the Burns & McDonnell team in Dallas-Fort Worth aims to bring innovation and delivery excellence to the water sector in planning, engineering design, and  construction, building on its tremendous strength in design-build and engineer-procure-construct (EPC) project execution methods. Prioritizing safety, reliability and efficiency within the project delivery process, employee-owners in the region's Water Group deliver a wide range of services, focusing on planning, design, design-build and collaborative project delivery in the following markets:

• Master Planning
• Green Infrastructure
• Industrial Water & Wastewater
• Municipal Water & Wastewater
• Smart Infrastructure
• Wastewater & Stormwater Collection
• Water Supply & Distribution

“I am honored and humbled to lead our tremendous team of water-focused professionals out of Dallas-Fort Worth,” Foster says. “Because of the urgency of the sector’s needs, we work harder, respond faster and deliver more. From designing world-class water treatment facilities to building water supply and distribution systems, we’re proud to work and live here — helping support and enhance our vibrant, diverse communities regionwide.”

Foster currently oversees the design of the Wichita Northwest Water Facility, in Wichita, Kansas. The $500 million design-build project is the largest infrastructure improvement in the city’s history, and one of the largest water infrastructure jobs in the nation. Once completed, the plant will provide clean drinking water to Wichita’s residents, industries and surrounding communities for decades to come.

Engineering News-Record ranks Burns & McDonnell as the No. 2 design firm in the Texas & Louisiana region, No. 6 in the Top 100 Design-Build firms and among the top 15 Wastewater and Water Treatment firms nationwide. The 100% employee-owned company has been recognized by more than 35 publications worldwide as a top workplace.

About Burns & McDonnell

Burns & McDonnell is a family of companies bringing together an unmatched team of 7,600 engineers, construction professionals, architects, planners, technologists and scientists to design and build our critical infrastructure. With an integrated construction and design mindset, we offer full-service capabilities. Founded in 1898 and working from more than 60 offices globally, Burns & McDonnell is 100% employee-owned. Learn how we are designed to build.