Austin is famous for its live music, abundant nature, and a thriving technology industry. Situated along the Colorado River, the capital city of Texas is also home to many outstanding architecture firms.
We’ve rounded up a list of some of the top architecture firms in Austin, to help you decide which company is right for you.
The top architecture firms in Austin
01 – Perkins and Will
Studio overview
- Location – 310 Comal Street
- Website – www.perkinswill.com
- Number of offices – 25
- Number of employees – 2,600
- Established in – 1935
Ethos
Perkins & Will is driven by the idea that design has the power to inspire joy, uplift lives, and strengthen the spirit of community. At the Austin studio, the team is collectively guided by core values of wellness, sustainability, inclusion, and diversity.
Specialty
They are a global design practice specializing in sustainability, urban design, and public developments. Their most notable buildings include educational facilities, museums, libraries, and master plans.
02 – STG Design
Studio overview
- Location – 828 W 6th Street
- Website – www.stgdesign.com
- Number of offices – 3
- Number of employees – 84
- Established in – 1976
Ethos
At STG Design, the main goal is to strive for the success of clients. They are committed to goals, metrics, benchmarks, and progress management, to ensure their clients’ needs are met. With an immersive approach to design, they form a shared culture of curiosity, discovering success together, and inspiring passion. With their work, they aim to create transformative experiences with you, and for you.
Specialty
STG offers architecture, interior design, and planning services. Their projects range from corporate offices to multi-family housing, urban mixed-use buildings, and hospitality.
03 – Michael Hsu Office of Architecture
Studio overview
- Location – 4910 Burnet Road
- Website – www.hsuoffice.com
- Number of offices – 2
- Number of employees – 50
- Established in – 2005
Ethos
Michael Hsu Office of Architecture was formed with the goal of producing locally-engaged, design-driven architecture and interiors. They endeavor to create livable, neighborhood-oriented urban spaces, using available materials and techniques to create unexpected results. They believe in the innate beauty of materials from nature, carefully chosen, composed and crafted.
Specialty
MHOA is committed to producing work that is functional, engaging, and honest. They are known for their adaptive reuse projects, as well as their residential, commercial, and retail designs. Their projects include restaurants, multi-family homes, offices, and marketplaces.
04 – Gensler
Studio overview
- Location – 1011 South Congress Avenue
- Website – www.gensler.com
- Number of offices – 49
- Number of employees – 6,000+
- Established in – 1965
Ethos
Gensler’s purpose is to create a better world through the power of design. This goal comes to life across their 28 practice areas, client relationships, global network of leaders, and diversity of talent. Guided by determined optimism, the firm uses the power of design to spark positive change and create a future that promotes equity, resilience, and wellbeing for everyone.
Specialty
As the largest architecture firm in the world, Gensler is involved in all kinds of project types, serving multiple different industries and regions. They specialize in providing consultancy services and integrated design solutions for large-scale projects across the globe.
05 – Page
Studio overview
- Location – 400 W Cesar Chavez Street
- Website – www.pagethink.com
- Number of offices – 9
- Number of employees – 650+
- Established in – 1898
Ethos
Page Southerland Page, Inc. believes in making designs that make lives better. With over a hundred years of experience, the firm makes use of its diverse expertise in a variety of industries to make a significant impact on the communities served.
Specialty
Page is a multidisciplinary design, architecture, and engineering firm primarily handling large-scale, complex projects that benefit from their integrated fields. They are known for their work in aviation, healthcare, government, and corporate.
06 – Miró Rivera Architects
Studio overview
- Location – 505 Powell Street
- Website – www.mirorivera.com
- Number of offices – 1
- Number of employees – 12
- Established in – 2000
Ethos
At Miró Rivera Architects, every project is viewed as a unique undertaking. Each of their designs results from careful consideration of the particular requirements of the client, site, and program. They put a consistent emphasis on natural light, transparency, and clear architectural progressions to build strong connections between the interior and the exterior.
Specialty
The firm’s portfolio includes residential, educational, office and mixed-use, sports and recreation, and cultural projects. They are an architectural design studio that blends art and architecture in every project. Their designs are characterized by a delicate, timeless style that has garnered numerous awards from both local and international organizations.
07 – Alterstudio Architecture
Studio overview
- Location – 1801 Lavaca Street
- Website – www.alterstudio.net
- Number of offices – 1
- Number of employees – 11
- Established in – 2002
Ethos
Alterstudio Architecture LLP is a full service architecture and design firm known for its inventiveness, craftsmanship, and details. Their work is rooted in deep-seated virtues of architecture – generous space making, shrewd manipulation of day-lighting, and meticulous attention to detail.
They believe that great architecture should deepen our everyday experience at the same time that it elevates our awareness of a larger, changing world.
Specialty
The practice specializes in precise and creative buildings, landscapes and interiors that sensitively respond to their environment and ecologies of place. Most of their projects are custom residences and contemporary private offices.
08 – Pfluger Architects
Studio overview
- Location – 209 East Riverside Drive
- Website – www.pflugerarchitects.com
- Number of offices – 5
- Number of employees – 59
- Established in – 1972
Ethos
The firm strongly believes that architecture connects people. At Pfluger Architects, the goal for every project is to create learning environments that fully integrate the institution’s mission, develop teaching spaces that enhance instruction and promote collegiality, and design schools that improve the overall quality of student life.
Specialty
They are most known for their work with schools, designing educational facilities and learning environments nationwide. Their projects include elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, colleges and universities, as well as building interiors.
09 – Jay Corder Architect
Studio overview
- Location – 2700 W Anderson Lane
- Website – www.jaycorder.com
- Number of offices – 1
- Number of employees – 5
- Established in – 2013
Ethos
Whether it’s a custom-designed home or mid-sized commercial venture, Jay Corder Architect brings a modernist approach, aesthetic sensibility, and personal commitment to every project. They believe in a reciprocal client relationship and want to be listening as much as they are talking.
The team’s goal is to get to know you well enough to understand and interpret your very particular needs, then to design a beautiful home that meets every single one of them.
Specialty
The firm’s work is centered around creating custom homes and commercial buildings. Their designs take on a distinctly modern look, while maintaining a sensitivity to the surrounding environment.
10 – McKinney York Architects
Studio overview
- Location – 1301 East 7th Street
- Website – www.mckinneyyork.com
- Number of offices – 2
- Number of employees – 27
- Established in – 1983
Ethos
At McKinney York Architects, they believe in the power of people and places to enrich lives. Their goal is to connect people to each other and the world around them by creating architecture that engages, inspires, and belongs.
Specialty
They have a diverse portfolio that includes work with schools, museums, churches, homes, and commercial establishments. They offer architecture and interior design services, with an adaptive design approach that never conforms to a single style or solution.
11 – Chioco Design
Studio overview
- Location – 1306 Rosewood Avenue
- Website – www.chiocodesign.com
- Number of offices – 1
- Number of employees – 11
- Established in – 2005
Ethos
Chioco Design is a firm concerned with creativity and the economics of making architecture and interiors. Their projects explore challenges unique to the site, program, material, environment and economic issues.
They investigate solutions that are inventive, honest, and responsive to the entire scope of problems presented by a project.
Specialty
The firm’s work ranges from the intimate, a private residence, to the massive, an industrial adaptive reuse project, and everything in between. They have designed restaurants, bars, retail stores, multi-use facilities and public spaces.
By having a diverse client base with various project types, they believe this to be an effective way to experience and contribute to a community.
12 – Nelsen Partners
Studio overview
- Location – 905 Congress Avenue
- Website – www.nelsenpartners.com
- Number of offices – 2
- Number of employees – 70
- Established in – 1990
Ethos
At Nelsen Partners, the single goal is to do exceptional work inspired by clients and the opportunities they present to create meaningful and memorable places.
For them, architecture is viewed not solely as object-making, but the careful crafting of buildings within their environment, with attention to creating memorable and sustainable built environments that enhance the human experience.
Specialty
Nelsen Partners provides architecture, interiors, planning, and urban design services with projects ranging from mixed-use developments and master-planned urban centers, to retail developments, office buildings, residential towers, hotels, performing arts venues, and restaurants.
13 – Barley Pfeiffer Architecture
Studio overview
- Location – 1800 West 6th Street
- Website – www.barleypfeiffer.com/
- Number of offices – 1
- Number of employees – 9
- Established in – 1989
Ethos
Barley Pfeiffer Architecture’s core strength is designing high-performance homes and buildings that are beautiful and timeless.
They follow a comprehensive design approach, and cater their projects to “live” particularly well with their site, paying close attention to the site’s micro-climate and setting.
Specialty
They’ve enjoyed success designing a select number of award-winning professional offices, recreational centers, restaurants, educational facilities, and custom residences throughout the United States.
They are proud to be recognized nationally as pioneers in the environmentally responsive green building movement.
14 – Dick Clark + Associates
Studio overview
- Location – 2120 East 7th Street
- Website – www.dcarch.com
- Number of offices – 1
- Number of employees – 23
- Established in – 1979
Ethos
For over 30 years, DC+A has been promoting good design and unique spaces. They approach each of their projects with energy and vision to deliver the best solution for their clients.
The firm’s team of designers are excited to learn more about each project to guide clients through a fun and efficient design process. They believe in their clients’ dreams and are happy to offer an opportunity to make your dream a reality.
Specialty
They provide full architectural services that range from master planning and site feasibility studies to custom single-family homes and interior design.
Their commercial project experience includes office buildings, hotels, mixed use buildings, restaurants, multi-family housing and retail design.
15 – Forge Craft Architecture + Design
Studio overview
- Location – 608 West Monroe Street
- Website – www.forgecraftarchitecture.com
- Number of offices – 1
- Number of employees – 8
- Established in – 2007
Ethos
The firm is guided by three founding principles; design, forge, and craft. “Design” is the purpose or planning that exists behind an action, fact, or object. “Forge” is defined as to form or make by concentrated effort. “Craft” is skill in making.
Their organization is built around a clear philosophy: to plan with purpose and then make by concentrated effort and with great skill.
Specialty
They are a dynamic firm offering design services with a primary focus on architecture and related tactile arts such as interior architecture, industrial/product design, furniture design, and exhibition design, with an ongoing interest in pursuing private and civic real estate development opportunities.
Most of their projects are residential and multi-family housing.
Top residential architects in Austin
01 – LaRue Architects
Studio overview
- Location – 500 N Capital of Texas Highway
- Website – www.larue-architects.com
- Number of offices – 1
- Number of employees – 8
- Established in – 1989
Ethos
LaRue and the team have perfected a Hill Country Contemporary vernacular that draws on regional building methods, materials, and the unique environment, for its modernist-inspired approach to Central Texas living.
Whether it’s a lakefront property, a tight site in Clarksville or a suburban context, LaRue’s work all around Austin captures what people love most about living here, from long views and big skies, to breezes through the treetops, glimpses of rolling hills, and frames of a vibrant cityscape.
Specialty
With over 400 private residences completed, the firm has become known for its extensive work in single-family home design. Their work has allowed them to expand, reaching areas across Texas as well as Tennessee, South Carolina, and Massachusetts.
They still maintain a close-knit team and a small operation to continue catering to clients’ needs with personal attention and hands-on problem solving.
02 – Geschke Group
Studio overview
- Location – 11200 Ranch Road
- Website – www.geschkegroup.com
- Number of offices – 1
- Number of employees – 7
- Established in – 2004
Ethos
At Geschke Group, they start each project by closely listening. Their goal is to fully understand your vision and ideas, and work together to create a design that responds efficiently and intelligently.
They want to understand your sense of aesthetics, your objectives, obstacles and limitations and in turn provide the critical feedback necessary to make the decisions that are best for you.
Meanwhile, they want to make the process enjoyable for you, easy and efficient for the builder and everyone involved. Their ultimate goal is to create a successful & beautiful project, one that you will love and are thrilled with.
Specialty
Geschke Group specializes in creating dream homes. They have completed several custom single family homes complete with landscaping and pool features.
They recognize that every house is different, and every site will have unique requirements, so they aim to custom-fit their scope of services to respond to the individual needs of each client.
03 – A Parallel Architecture
Studio overview
- Location – 803 ½ West Avenue
- Website – www.aparallel.com
- Number of offices – 1
- Number of employees – 6
- Established in – 2008
Ethos
This firm embraces every project as an opportunity to collaborate and create, working in concert with client, consultant and contractor to form an inspired team with parallel objectives and a common goal.
They also understand that buildings are beholden to their site, whether physically, climatically or contextually. Each site offers unique opportunities and constraints, and designing within these parameters encourages meaningful innovation and instills a building with appropriateness.
Specialty
A Parallel offers architecture, interiors, and landscape design services for houses and residential developments alike. They approach these three fields of design in parallel, creating a complete and cohesive design package for each project they handle.
04 – Vanguard Studio
Studio overview
- Location – 6601 Vaught Ranch Road
- Website – www.vanguardstudio.com
- Number of offices – 1
- Number of employees – 7
- Established in – 2000
Ethos
Vanguard Studio believes that strong design, which is responsive to the clients needs and dreams, is always possible – no matter what constraints exist. Their involvement in the process starts with the first site visit, and ends with the finished project.
This holistic approach ensures that their experience and understanding of the project is utilized throughout, always remaining accessible to the client or builder.
Specialty
Vanguard Studio Inc. is an architecture firm specializing in luxury custom and speculative homes in the Central Texas area. Their award-winning designs strive to combine the timeless qualities of the past with the progressive ideas of the present.
05 – Clark Richardson Architects
Studio overview
- Location – 2709 E 5th Street
- Website – www.clarkrichardson.com
- Number of offices – 1
- Number of employees – 4
- Established in – 2009
Ethos
The firm was established with the goal of creating contemporary experiences through form, sustainability and detail. They maintain flexibility and offer full commitment to delivering specialized client services.
Clark Richardson Architects operates with a relentless drive to meet clients’ needs, with all the tools and experience to help you attain your goals whether they be a bathroom renovation, full custom home design or professional commercial space.
Specialty
CR specializes in green residential and commercial design. They provide services for home design and renovation, commercial design and interior fit-out, master planning, and sustainability consulting.
Conclusion
There are lots of options out there, but it all boils down to finding a firm that best fits your project needs and styles. This list serves as a guide for anyone seeking architects in the Austin area, whether to build or to start a career with.
The firms that made it onto our list represent some of the best architects in Austin. With their experience and impressive portfolios, they would be trustworthy options for your projects.
