Urbanspace Adds to Austin’s Skyline With The Modern, a 56-Story Downtown Condo Tower
CEO Kevin Burns and the Urbanspace team share the story behind their first ground-up tower on Rainey Street
In 2006, Kevin Burns, CEO of Urbanspace, purchased half of the site that would later become the company’s first developed tower. It wasn’t until well over a decade later that the tower would break ground and join the high-rise transformation of Austin’s Rainey Street.
After purchasing the site, Burns faced ill-timed circumstances as a recession put his ambitions on hold. Instead, he leased the land to Bridget Dunlap, who later opened Austin’s beloved Container Bar, while waiting for the right moment to return to his architectural goals.
Between 2009 and 2019, Burns acquired the second half of the site at 92 Rainey Street—formerly home to Austin’s Bungalow Bar—through a series of negotiations and partnerships, clearing the way for the company’s first tower. “Urbanspace has been so integral in many of the other towers—from sales and marketing to unit mix, branding, and design—that we felt it was time for us to make our mark,” shared Burns.
A vertical neighborhood takes shape
Urbanspace began working with design and architecture firm Nelsen Partners in 2019 to develop The Modern, a “vertical neighborhood” designed with intention and attention to detail. The 56-story tower, unveiled in 2025, includes 319 residential condominiums, with amenities on levels 16 and 34, an office on level 17, and residences occupying floors 18 through 56.
Floor plans were designed to accommodate multiple stages of life, from single residents to multigenerational families. Burns said what sets the project apart is Urbanspace’s insider perspective. “We as developers live in the building and have lived downtown for several years,” said Lara Burns Boyda, Chief Operating Officer of Urbanspace. Burns added, “We are walking the walk and talking the talk.”
“Above all, we wanted it to be a community,” Burns Boyda said. “You go into some buildings, and the amenity spaces feel very public, and that can discourage people from using them. We wanted it to be an extension of our residents’ living room.”
The Modern’s amenities
Spanning 19,000 square feet, The Modern’s amenities blend interior and exterior spaces designed to function as an extension of residents’ living areas. Outdoor decks serve as elevated “backyards,” with fire pits, gathering areas anchored by a community table made from a preserved heritage pecan tree, and spaces for both relaxation and entertainment.
Additional offerings include bike and paddleboard storage, a movie lounge and a 35th-floor speakeasy, along with other shared spaces designed to encourage community and social connection.
Light, texture and art were treated as architectural elements rather than afterthoughts, with plant life woven throughout common areas and curated artwork.
“I don’t know any other buildings where the developer has had such a strong stance on everything down to what hangs on the walls,” reflects Merrill Alley, Urbanspace’s principal designer. “Part of our exploration was to travel to different places, different art shows and bring back pieces that felt personal and appealing to a broader audience.”
Designed for downtown living
Alley describes the approach as “function first,” a philosophy applied to every detail of the building. Burns noted that The Modern includes five high-speed dispatch elevators, an often-overlooked but critical component of vertical living. That logistical focus is complemented by high-end residential furnishings from brands such as Molteni&C and B&B Italia, softening what could otherwise feel like a commercial tower.
The Modern sits adjacent to the Waterloo Greenway, connecting the building to Austin’s public landscape. “When we named the building, we wanted to go back to the fact that it’s all based on modernism, where form follows function, the spaces are built for people that live here,” shared Burns Boyda.
Rather than simply adding another tower to the skyline, Urbanspace developed a building intended to reflect Austin’s contemporary urban landscape. Located at 610 Davis St., the building offers one- to five-bedroom residences priced from the $400,000s to $5 million, with penthouses starting at $9.2 million and select units available for lease.
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