Negrete & Kolar Architects

Negrete & Kolar Architects is a full-service architecture firm that has been providing architecture, sustainable design, planning, and interior design services to a diverse range of clients for the past 25 years. We have two locations in Austin and Edinburg, Texas, and our design philosophy is based on the belief that quality can only be achieved by giving equal attention and experience to all project phases.

Our Team

Our team is led by Principal, AIA David Negrete, and Administrative Partner Diana Negrete. We also have a Former Partner / Retired Roger Kolar, Architect Jason George, Project Manager / Intern Bruce W. Menke, Project Manager / Intern Andres Mata, Project Manager / Intern Esteban Zamora, Project Production Fernando Perez, and Comptroller Jesse Martinez. Our team members are experienced and dedicated professionals who are committed to delivering high-quality design services.

Sustainable Design

At Negrete & Kolar Architects, our commitment to sustainable design principles is an integral part of who we are. We believe that as architects, it is our responsibility to design buildings that do not waste material, energy, water, or environmental resources in ecological or economic terms. We carefully consider indoor air quality and natural lighting on all projects, with the goal of providing healthy environments for all building occupants. Our history of involvement with environmental issues, energy conservation, and other sustainable design techniques is extensive and spans many projects. We focus on simple, common-sense sustainable building strategies, such as proper solar orientation, shading studies, and selection of regionally available materials. However, we also look to technological innovations in conservation when appropriate, including solar panels, low-flow plumbing fixtures, balancing daylighting with artificial lighting, and thermal water and ice storage systems.

Implementation

With LEED Accredited Professionals on staff, Negrete & Kolar Architects fully embraces the United States Green Building Council's LEED concepts as an integral part of our design process. We attend green building conferences and seminars structured to educate the design community on the principles of sustainable design, and we participate in sustainable building initiatives and commission guidelines on our projects. Our team has been attending green building conferences since 1993, including the 2009 USGBC Greenbuild Conference in Phoenix, Arizona.

Consultants

As a standard practice, Negrete & Kolar Architects direct consulting engineers to constantly evaluate methodologies and products manufactured to reduce energy consumption and promote sustainability. We consider utility infrastructure, transportation network, cost considerations, and environmental assessment to determine toxic contamination, flooding, and ground percolation criteria.

Examples in Practice

Our approach to sustainable design involves the integration of sustainable goals into the design process, and it includes coordination with the design team and the owner's objectives and budget. We have implemented many sustainable design concepts, such as utilizing topography and soil type to maximize site and structural fill material, optimizing building orientation to preserve existing trees and take advantage of daylight, specifying construction waste management practices to divert materials from the landfill, selecting native or adapted trees and vegetation that fit the regional and microclimatic conditions and require minimal irrigation, specifying appropriate materials, finishes, adhesives, and sealants to protect indoor air quality, and selecting materials and building products that are economical, durable, and of low embodied energy to reduce industrial and environmental impact, while seeking regional availability to reduce transportation cost and stimulate the local economy.

At Negrete & Kolar Architects, we believe that exceptional quality in building design is best achieved by applying equal effort to all phases of the design process, from the initial concept through construction and occupancy. We are committed to delivering high-quality design services that are sustainable, functional, and aesthetically pleasing to our clients.