The places that draw us in, the ones that make us want to stay awhile and return to again and again are not the result of great architecture alone. The places that capture our imaginations, inspire contemplation and connection with others are the product of strong vision, responsiveness to context, intentional design, and a symphony of interdisciplinary contributions that usher them into the world. Clayton Korte creates places that celebrate their environment and exalt the human experience at the intersection of architecture, interiors, authenticity, and craft.

What began as a small architecture practice in 1983 has evolved into a firm today that includes interior design and brand services with offices in Austin and San Antonio. Though our Texas roots run deep, work on hospitality, winery, ranch, and residential projects regularly take us to distant points outside the Lone Star State.

Some firms draw a bright line where architecture stops and interior design starts. At Clayton Korte, we have a more fluid approach. The moment one steps inside of a building, interior design becomes integral to a place. From the tile on the walls to the finish of the floors, to the proportion and scale of the furniture, every detail contributes to the overall experience.

Clayton Korte architects and designers push design conversations forward by using the same tools — sketches, drawings — to develop their understanding of a space and solve for its needs. In this way, we ensure the intent behind the architecture and interiors coheres. Whether our own interior designers are providing full-service or our clients bring their own interior designer to a project, we prefer to work as part of a team that agrees each discipline’s contribution heightens the others.

Team

Leadership

Paul Clayton

AIA, LEED AP |  Principal

Brian Korte

FAIA | Principal

Sam Manning

AIA | Partner

Nathan Quiring

AIA | Partner

George Wilcox

AIA |  Partner

Emily Little

FAIA | Partner Emerita

Leigh Mires

Director of People and Operations

Wendy Smith

Creative Director

Kristen Brown

AIA | Director of Architectural Operations

Catherine Gavin

Director of Communications

Courtney Carroll

Controller

Charlotte Baham

AIA | Associate

Sky Currie

AIA |  Associate

Camden Greenlee

AIA | Associate

Travis Greig

AIA |  Associate

Germán Spiller

Associate

Staff

Stephen Baron

AIA | Project Architect

Andrew Basha

Project Designer

Gerardo Batres

Project Designer

Rebekah Carroll

Senior Accountant

Javier Castro

AIA LEED AP BD+C | Architect

Raymond Castro

Project Designer and Content Creator

Marcos Crane

Project Designer

Eric Delitzsch

Project Designer

Maple Ye Feng

Project Designer

Will Hachtman

Project Designer

Andrew Horne

AIA | Architect

Lorie Inman

Office Manager

Emily Kaplan

NCIDQ, RID | Interior Designer

Verónica Lloveras

NCIDQ | Interior Designer

Patrick Lucas

Project Designer

Benito Martinez

Project Designer

Jessica McCarter

Accounting Manager

Josh Nieves

AIA | Architect

Raquel Royal

Project Designer

Sydney Steadman

AIA | Architect

Brittney Williams

Interior Designer

Stephen Williams

AIA | Architect

Studio

At its core, Clayton Korte fosters a culture of design excellence and an ethos of constant improvement through professional development, mentorship, and other means of growth. Our open studio environment guides our firm culture, leveraging each person’s unique passion and talent, driving each other to create great architecture and design. Beyond our desks, team members engage in both office and community activities like celebrating each other’s achievements and life events, participating in design pin-up discussions and bike-to-work challenges, serving on local and industry boards, and taking time to enjoy the beautiful, surrounding central Texas landscape.

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Press

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October 4, 2024

DESIGN:ED Podcast: Brian Korte FAIA

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June 1, 2024

Clayton Korte creates “familiar yet exclusive” winery buildings in California

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April 1, 2024

A Slab of Mahogany from a Storied New York Bar Still Serves Cocktails and History in Austin, Texas

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Awards

Though our portfolio is diverse, our uncompromising desire for quality and commitment to excellence unify our approach. These concepts are at the heart of the firm’s philosophy and guide us as we strive to create enduring architecture and design that reflect a direct response to context and client goals. We are grateful for our clients’ trust, and for the many talented collaborators, craftspeople, and artisans who help bring our work into the world. We are honored that our work has garnered over 70 awards for design excellence to date; the recognition only reinforces our commitment to our core principles.

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