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We strive for design that supports health and happiness, and which leaves a positive impact on the planet. ​​
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We believe in quality over quantity; great projects are not defined by size or budget, but by intention and execution.​

We love what we do and the people we work with. Listening, collaboration and trust are fundamental to our practice.

 

About

Our design approach combines the creative and technical aspects of place-making to deliver solutions that are impactful, elegant, and sustainable. We provide full architectural services from conceptual design through construction administration. Our work includes single-family and multi-family residential new construction, selective remodels and additions, and small-scale commercial urban infill.

 

Our office is located downtown in an adaptively repurposed transfer station which we call  "The Space Station". The 0.4 acre site, once an asphalt parking lot, is being converted into an extensive urban prairie garden and pollinator habitat. The Space Station is a constant inspiration to do more with less. 

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People

Cotton Estes, AIA, LEED AP

Professional Experience

Cotton Estes Architect, San Antonio TX

HighCotton Architects, San Antonio TX

Lake Flato Architects, San Antonio TX 

Bohlin Cywinski Jackson, Philadelphia PA

​Education

Master of Architecture, Yale University School of Design

Drawing Prize Award

H.I. Feldman Prize Nominee

Frank D. Isreal Admissions Chair Scholarship

Bachelor of Arts, Bowdoin College

Majors in Environmental Studies and Visual Arts

Thomas J. Watson Fellowship

Cotton Estes

Justin Ford, AIA, CDT, LEED AP

Professional Experience

Cotton Estes Architect, San Antonio TX

Lake Flato Architects, San Antonio TX 

MF Architecture, Austin TX 

The Construction Zone, Ltd., Phoenix AZ

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​Education

Master of Architecture, The University of Texas at Austin

Bartlett Cocke General Scholarship

Bachelor of Science in Design, Arizona State University

Magna Cum Laude

Joan Frazer Memorial Award

Sean Murphy Prize ​​​

Justin Ford

Press & Recognition

Residential Design Architecture Awards 2026

Renovation Citation Award | The Cootie Catcher

 

Residential Design Architecture Awards 2026

Architectural Interiors Citation Award | Tierra de Paz

Texas Architect "Cootie CatcherAdaptation Issue, Spring 2026 by Noel Kuwabara | The Cootie Catcher

 

The New York Times, Aug. 26th 2025

"Staying in San Antonio After Building a New 'Heart' for Their Home" by Tim McKeough | The Cootie Catcher

 

Residential Design Magazine Vol 6. 2025 

by Cheryl Weber | Tierra de Paz 

 

AIA San Antonio 2025 Single-Family Residential Award 

The Cootie Catcher 

 

"Spectacular Women of Architect & Design Texas" 2024

by Jolie Carpenter Barry | Barrera House

Pecha Kucha San Antonio, Vol. 44 2024

Cotton Estes at the Carver Community Cultural Center 

AIA San Antonio 2024 Unbuilt Award

Honey Creek

Residential Design Magazine Vol. 1 2024

by S. Claire Conroy, Barrera House

Texas Butterfly Ranch, Jul. 6th 2024

"San Antonio architect converts downtown parking lot into a native ''prairie cloud'" by Monika Maeckle | Space Station

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AIA San Antonio 2023 Single-Family Residential Award

Barrera House

 

Texas Society of Architects' Design Award 2022

Boston Commons 

Residential Design Architecture Awards 2022

On the Boards Citation Award | Honey Creek 

Residential Design Magazine Vol. 3 2022

Custom on the Boards | Honey Creek

CRAN AIA San Antonio Design Award 2022

Multi-Family Award | Boston Commons 

Texas Architect "Uncommon Courtesy" May/Jun 2022

by Brantley Hightower | Boston Commons

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"Bigger than Tiny, Smaller than Average" 2022

by Sheri Koones | Pine House  

AIA San Antonio Merit Award 2021 

Pine House

Texas Architect "Double Duty" Jul/Aug 2020

by Brantley Hightower | Pine House

 

AIA San Antonio Unbuilt Citation Award 2020

Boston Commons

AIA Women in Architecture Exhibit 

"3 Studies in Urban Infill" 2020

Home Design & Decor  "Long Leaf Pine & Cinder" Aug/Sept 2019

by Angela Rabke | Dawson House 

AIA Homes Tour San Antonio 2018

Dawson House & Presa Houses 

 

The San Antonio Express News "Inside the Homes of San Antonio Architects" Jul 28, 2016 | Dawson House​

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©  Cotton Estes Architect, PLLC 2018

cotton estes architect

©  Cotton Estes Architect, PLLC 2018

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