The University of Texas at Austin identifies the practice as active since 2002.
Independent editorial profile
alterstudio architecture
Austin
Established 2002
Custom residential
Architecture + interiors
Urban infill
Site-driven design
An Austin architecture and interior design practice known for precise, site-responsive houses that balance privacy, daylight, landscape and meticulous construction detail.
Best suited for: contemporary custom homes on constrained urban or topographically complex sites, especially when the client values spatial precision, integrated interiors, mature trees, carefully controlled daylight and close attention to material craft.
At a glance
The firm lists its studio at 1801 Lavaca Street in central Austin.
A full-service practice working across buildings, landscapes and interiors.
Kevin Alter, Ernesto Cragnolino, FAIA, and Tim Whitehill.
The public portfolio is concentrated in houses, residential interiors and small-scale design work.
Kevin Alter is the Sid W. Richardson Centennial Professor of Architecture.
Editorial overview
Precision shaped by site rather than a fixed visual formula
alterstudio’s strongest houses are organized around the specific pressures of a lot: heritage trees, slope, neighboring buildings, privacy, solar exposure and the sequence between interior and landscape. The resulting architecture is controlled and highly detailed, but it usually avoids becoming detached from everyday domestic life.
Recent Austin recognition extends a national residential record
Boggy Creek Residence and Deer Creek Residence received AIA Austin recognition in 2026. That current regional evidence follows national AIA awards for Alta Vista Residence and West Campus Residence in 2023, supporting the practice’s high placement in both statewide and Austin residential rankings.
Award evidence is deeper than public business information
The practice publishes a substantial awards archive and project portfolio, while information about fees, typical construction budgets, current staffing and project capacity is not publicly standardized. This profile does not infer commercial fit from award volume alone.
Ranking placements — 2026
#4
#2
#2
#8
Texas Architecture Index
Statewide placement for sustained design recognition, residential quality and contribution to contemporary Austin architecture.
Residential Architects
High statewide placement for custom houses supported by repeat national and Texas jury recognition.
Austin Residential Architects
City placement for precise urban-infill homes, difficult sites and close integration with trees and landscape.
Research & Innovation
Recognition for the link between professional practice, architectural education, writing and applied building research.
Selected projects
Boggy Creek Residence
Why it matters: the most current independent jury evidence in the profile, receiving an AIA Austin Design Award of Excellence and reinforcing the practice’s position in contemporary Austin residential design.
View AIA Austin award record →Alta Vista Residence
Why it matters: a compact urban house organized around live oaks, a creek escarpment and an efficient envelope, showing how environmental performance and domestic experience can form the same design argument.
View AIA award record →West Campus Residence
Why it matters: a 1,922-square-foot family home that uses a narrow infill condition, porches and differentiated interior volumes to make compact living feel spatially generous rather than reduced.
View AIA award record →Pecan Grove Residence
Why it matters: a mature-tree site translated into a sequence of privacy, framed views, textured materials and a tall central kitchen volume; it also demonstrates the practice’s integration of architecture, interiors and landscape.
View official project page →Project imagery will be added only after publication rights and photography credits are confirmed.
Evidence ledger
This ledger separates national AIA records, regional jury results and institutional records from information reported directly by the practice. Evidence grades measure source independence, not design quality.
| Claim | Grade | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 AIA Housing Award — Alta Vista Residence | A | American Institute of Architects | Jul. 26, 2026 |
| 2023 AIA Small Project Award — West Campus Residence | A | American Institute of Architects | Jul. 26, 2026 |
| 2026 AIA Austin Design Award of Excellence — Boggy Creek Residence | B | AIA Austin | Jul. 26, 2026 |
| 2026 AIA Austin Design Award of Merit — Deer Creek Residence | B | AIA Austin | Jul. 26, 2026 |
| 2025 Texas Society of Architects Design Award — Westview Residence | B | Texas Society of Architects | Jul. 26, 2026 |
| Practice active since 2002; Kevin Alter holds a current faculty appointment at UT Austin | B | UT Austin School of Architecture | Jul. 26, 2026 |
| Current partner roster: Kevin Alter, Ernesto Cragnolino and Tim Whitehill | C | Firm studio page | Jul. 26, 2026 |
| Full-service architecture and interior design practice based at 1801 Lavaca Street in Austin | C | Firm studio page | Jul. 26, 2026 |
Read the full evidence-grade definitions
Grade A means a claim is supported by an independent national record or official registry. Grade B means it is supported by a professional jury or regional institution. Grade C means it was reported by the firm and has not yet been independently verified. View the evidence standards.
Practice information
Leadership
The practice currently identifies Kevin Alter, Ernesto Cragnolino, FAIA, and Tim Whitehill as partners. Kevin Alter also holds a faculty appointment at the University of Texas at Austin, connecting the studio’s professional work with teaching, writing and architectural discourse.
Licensure and registration
Registration review in progress. Texas business-registration information is being checked against the Texas Board of Architectural Examiners registry. Registration confirms legal standing to practice and is not an editorial endorsement.
Services and specialties
Custom HomesLuxury ResidentialInterior ArchitectureSustainable Design
Considering alterstudio for a residential project?
Review the practice’s official portfolio or submit a project brief to compare firms with documented experience relevant to your site, neighborhood, desired house size and level of architectural detail.
Introductions and referral inquiries do not affect ranking positions or evidence grades.
Related research and rankings
Profile changelog
- Profile structure, project selection, evidence ledger and client guidance revised. Sources rechecked; edition evidence cutoff unchanged.
- Initial editorial profile and ranking placements recorded.