A rotor assembly for a gas turbine engine is provided. The rotor assembly includes a compressor rotor, a compressor stator coupled upstream from the compressor rotor, and a bearing assembly coupled between the compressor rotor and the compressor stator for supporting the compressor rotor. The bearing assembly includes a pair of foil thrust bearings coupled to a portion of the compressor stator and a pair of spring packs coupled substantially co-axially to the pair of foil thrust bearings. A method of assembling the same is also provided.