The Best Architects in Missouri, 2026
From June through October 2026, our research team analyzed more than 25 architecture firms across Missouri, including published firm portfolios, AIA national and chapter award records, Better Business Bureau profiles, and client reviews from Google, Houzz, Angi, and HomeAdvisor, adjusting for project type, firm size, service model, and whether a licensed architect stays involved through construction.
In the sections below, we break down the best architects in Missouri by architect-led design-build capability, lake and sloped-site expertise, cost transparency, client reviews, and awards, with firm-by-firm profiles from St. Louis and Kansas City to Springfield and Columbia, along with specialty rankings for different project priorities and how to talk to an architect-led design-build team about your project. Each firm was scored across seven weighted criteria:
Architect-Led Design-Build (25%): Whether a licensed architect personally leads design and the same firm carries the project through construction, rather than handing plans to a separately hired builder. This is the defining criterion for this list.
Lake and Sloped-Site Expertise (20%): Demonstrated experience designing and delivering homes on waterfront, hillside, and topographically complex lots, where site conditions drive the architecture.
Open-Book Cost Transparency (20%): How much visibility clients get into subcontractor bids, material costs, and project expenses from design through construction.
Average Review Score (15%): Client ratings averaged across Google, Houzz, Angi, HomeAdvisor, and other independent review platforms. Firms with too few public reviews to average received a neutral score.
Awards and Recognition (10%): Verified honors from national and regional design, building, and business associations.
Year Founded (5%): How long the firm has operated under its current name and ownership.
Price Range (5%): How flexible each firm is across project budgets, on a scale from $ (least flexible) to $$$$$ (most flexible).
| # | Company | Architect-Led Design-Build | Open-Book Cost Transparency | Avg. Review Score | Lake & Sloped-Site Expertise | Awards & Recognition | Year Founded | Price Range | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | TXR Architects + Constructors | Tom Roof, AIA, personally designs every project; single contract covers design + build | Open-book accounting; clients see subcontractor bids, material costs, and expenses | 5.0/5 | Headquartered at Lake of the Ozarks; designs around shoreline, topography, views, and lake permitting | BBB A+ accreditation held since 2012; AIA member | 2011 | $$$$$ | 92/100 |
| 2 | Hufft | Architect-founded studio pairing design with in-house fabrication | Budget managed across design and fabrication; cost structure not published | 5.0/5 | Site-driven modern homes in Kansas City and Northwest Arkansas | 65+ design awards; founder named among top 200 U.S. residential architects by Forbes | 2005 | $$$$ | 66/100 |
| 3 | el dorado | Partner-led architecture practice with in-house fabrication and certified welders | Fabrication costs managed in-house; full cost model not published | Too few public reviews to average | Urban infill, adaptive reuse, and modern residential work in Kansas City | 30+ AIA regional design awards; ARCHITECT Top 50 firms; AIA Kansas City Firm of the Year | 1996 | $$$$ | 62/100 |
| 4 | FORNEY + architecture | AIA principals lead design; construction handled by a separately hired builder | Construction pricing set by the client's chosen contractor | 5.0/5 | Lists lake house design as a specialty; second office at Lake Gaston, NC | Best of Houzz 2014 through 2022 | 2012 (roots to 1991) | $$$$ | 59/100 |
| 5 | Dake Wells Architecture | Founding principals lead design; builder hired separately | Construction pricing set by the client's chosen contractor | Too few public reviews to average | Award-winning Ozarks hillside home near Table Rock Lake | 2018 AIA National Honor Award; ARCHITECT 50; AIA Springfield Honor Awards | 2004 | $$$$ | 57/100 |
| 6 | Srote & Co Architects | Architecture, structural engineering, and interiors in-house; builder hired separately | Construction pricing set by the client's chosen contractor | 5.0/5 | Custom homes in established St. Louis suburbs | 2022 House of the Year (Architect & Designer Awards); Best of Houzz 2014 through 2022 | 1992 | $$$$ | 56/100 |
| 7 | Mitchell Wall Architecture & Design | Architect-led design and interiors; partners with outside builders | Construction pricing set by the partnering builder | 4.8/5 | Luxury estates and additions in Ladue, Creve Coeur, and Town and Country | St. Louis Magazine Architect & Designer Award (2023); World Design Awards winner (2023) | 1976 | $$$ | 54/100 |
| 8 | Tim Hollerbach Designs | AIA principal leads residential design; builder hired separately | Design fees scoped up front; construction bid separately | 4.9/5 | Rural and acreage homes across Jefferson County and South St. Louis County | 9x Best of Houzz | 2009 | $$$ | 52/100 |
| 9 | Curtiss W. Byrne Architect | AIA principal leads design; builder hired separately | Construction pricing set by the client's chosen contractor | 4.9/5 | Custom homes, additions, and remodels in West St. Louis County | BBB A+ rating; none independently verified beyond that | Not publicly disclosed | $$$ | 47/100 |
| 10 | Peckham Architecture | Principal architect leads design; builds with local contractors | Construction pricing set by the client's chosen contractor | Too few public reviews to average | Residential, historic, and commercial work in mid-Missouri | Designed Missouri's first certified Passive House; COMO Top of the Town (2016) | 2011 (principal practicing since 1973) | $$$ | 46/100 |
1. TXR Architects + Constructors, for architect-led lake home design-build
TXR Architects + Constructors is a luxury design-build firm headquartered at Lake of the Ozarks, and it is the only firm on this list built around an architect who both designs and delivers every project. Co-founders Tom Roof, AIA, and Rocky Corpe split the work along their strengths: Tom personally develops each design and oversees construction through final walkthrough, while Rocky manages day-to-day construction and subcontractor coordination. Clients sign one contract, work with one accountable team, and get open-book accounting that shows subcontractor bids, material costs, and project expenses as the work progresses.
For St. Louis homeowners, TXR fills a specific need. Lake of the Ozarks sits roughly 160 miles from St. Louis, and building a second home that far from a primary residence requires a team that already knows the shoreline conditions, terrain, permitting process, and subcontractor network at the lake. TXR's design process starts with a site visit where Tom evaluates views, topography, access, and structural considerations before a single plan is drawn, and the firm keeps St. Louis clients connected through regular progress updates and direct access to both principals. TXR has held BBB A+ accreditation since 2012.
Location: Lake Ozark, MO (serving St. Louis)
Founded: 2011
Avg. Review Score: 5.0/5
Price Range: $$$$$
Services: Residential architecture, custom home design-build, lake and waterfront homes, renovations, outdoor living and pools, commercial design-build
| Summary of Online Reviews |
|---|
| Clients consistently praise TXR Architects + Constructors for how carefully the team studies each building site, with one homeowner adding, "We would build with them again without hesitation." |
2. Hufft, for nationally recognized modern architecture
Hufft is one of the most design-awarded firms in Missouri. Founded in 2005 by Matthew and Jesse Hufft, the Kansas City studio combines architecture, interior design, and an in-house fabrication shop, an approach built on the belief that designers and builders working side by side produce better buildings. Its work has earned more than 65 design awards and coverage in Dwell, Architectural Record, and Interior Design, and Forbes has named Matthew Hufft among the top 200 residential architects in the country.
Hufft's practice spans commercial, institutional, and residential work, and its residential portfolio leans toward modern urban and suburban homes in Kansas City and Northwest Arkansas rather than lakefront or second-home construction. The firm does not publish an open-book cost model, and its review footprint on independent platforms is small relative to its project volume, which makes client satisfaction harder to benchmark.
Location: Kansas City, MO
Founded: 2005
Avg. Review Score: 5.0/5
Price Range: $$$$
Services: Residential and commercial architecture, interior design, custom fabrication, furniture and millwork
| Summary of Online Reviews |
|---|
| Clients consistently praise Hufft for distinctive modern design and the level of craft its in-house fabrication team brings to every detail. |
3. el dorado, for design-forward Kansas City architecture
el dorado has practiced architecture in Kansas City since 1996 and has built one of the strongest design reputations in the state. The firm integrates architecture, urban design, and fabrication, with certified welders on staff who help build what the architects draw. Its recognition includes more than 30 AIA regional design awards, AIA Kansas City Firm of the Year, an Emerging Voices award from the Architectural League of New York, and a place on ARCHITECT magazine's list of the top 50 firms in design.
el dorado's portfolio leans heavily toward commercial, civic, and adaptive reuse projects, with residential work making up a smaller share of its output. Its public materials do not describe an open-book cost model or experience with lake and steep-slope homes, and the firm has too few reviews on independent platforms to benchmark client satisfaction.
Location: Kansas City, MO
Founded: 1996
Avg. Review Score: Too few public reviews to average
Price Range: $$$$
Services: Architecture, urban design, adaptive reuse, residential design, custom fabrication
| Summary of Online Reviews |
|---|
| Clients frequently highlight el dorado for inventive design ideas and the hands-on craftsmanship its fabrication team brings to each build. |
4. FORNEY + architecture, for high-end custom and lake home design
FORNEY + architecture combines the high-end residential practice Jane Ann Forney, AIA, began in 1991 with Rob Forney's large-scale project experience, formalized as a single firm in 2012. The firm designs luxury estate homes, custom homes, additions, and remodels, and it is one of the few St. Louis practices that lists lake house design as a specialty, supported by a second office at Lake Gaston in North Carolina. It held Best of Houzz recognition every year from 2014 through 2022 and carries a perfect 5.0 average.
FORNEY is an architecture-only practice, so clients hire and contract a builder separately once the drawings are complete, and construction pricing is set by that contractor rather than through an open-book model. Its lake experience is centered outside Missouri, at Lake Gaston, rather than at Missouri lake communities.
Location: St. Louis, MO
Founded: 2012 (practice roots to 1991)
Avg. Review Score: 5.0/5
Price Range: $$$$
Services: Custom and estate home design, lake house design, additions, luxury remodels, multi-family, small commercial
| Summary of Online Reviews |
|---|
| Clients frequently highlight FORNEY + architecture for creative design solutions that turn complicated sites and wish lists into homes that stand apart. |
5. Dake Wells Architecture, for award-winning Ozarks design
Dake Wells Architecture was founded in Springfield in 2004 by Brandon Dake and Andrew Wells, FAIA, and has grown into one of the most decorated firms in southwest Missouri, with a second office in Kansas City. Its Reeds Spring Middle School earned a 2018 AIA National Honor Award, ARCHITECT magazine named it to the Architect 50, and its residential work includes Gobbler's Mountain House, an Ozarks hillside home near Table Rock Lake that won multiple AIA Springfield awards.
Dake Wells's practice is weighted toward schools, civic buildings, and institutional projects, with custom homes making up a small part of its portfolio. The firm is architecture-only, so construction is contracted separately and cost reporting depends on the chosen builder, and it has too few reviews on independent platforms to benchmark client satisfaction.
Location: Springfield, MO
Founded: 2004
Avg. Review Score: Too few public reviews to average
Price Range: $$$$
Services: Architecture, interior design, custom homes, sustainable design, educational and civic buildings
| Summary of Online Reviews |
|---|
| Clients consistently praise Dake Wells Architecture for thoughtful, site-specific design that fits each building naturally into the Ozarks landscape. |
6. Srote & Co Architects, for award-winning custom home architecture
Srote & Co Architects has served St. Louis since 1992 and offers architecture, structural engineering, and interior design under one roof, a broader in-house skill set than most residential practices. The firm's custom homes have earned House of the Year at the 2022 Architect & Designer Awards, a USA & Americas Property Award, and a New Home of Merit honor from the Kirkwood Landmarks Commission, along with Best of Houzz recognition from 2014 through 2022.
Srote & Co does not build, so clients contract construction separately and rely on that builder for pricing and cost reporting. The firm's residential work is concentrated in established suburban St. Louis neighborhoods rather than lakefront or steep-slope properties.
Location: Brentwood, MO
Founded: 1992
Avg. Review Score: 5.0/5
Price Range: $$$$
Services: Custom home design, additions and renovations, interior design, structural engineering, commercial architecture
| Summary of Online Reviews |
|---|
| Clients consistently praise Srote & Co Architects, with one saying they would recommend the firm "to anyone looking for an architect to build a custom home." |
7. Mitchell Wall Architecture & Design, for luxury estate design
Mitchell Wall Architecture & Design was founded in 1976 to serve St. Louis's high-end residential market and is now led by Thomas Wall, son of the founder. The boutique firm handles architecture, interiors, site planning, and landscape design, and its work on estates in Ladue, Creve Coeur, and Town and Country has earned a St. Louis Magazine Architect & Designer Award, a 2023 World Design Award, and coverage in Architectural Record.
Mitchell Wall partners with outside builders for construction, so the design team and the building team sit under separate contracts, and construction pricing is managed by the builder. The firm's portfolio centers on suburban estates and additions rather than lake or sloped-site homes, and its review count on independent platforms is limited.
Location: St. Louis, MO
Founded: 1976
Avg. Review Score: 4.8/5
Price Range: $$$
Services: Custom home architecture, additions, renovations, interior design, site planning, landscape design
| Summary of Online Reviews |
|---|
| Clients frequently highlight Mitchell Wall Architecture & Design for meticulous detailing and full design control from concept through interiors. |
8. Tim Hollerbach Designs, for South County custom homes
Tim Hollerbach Designs was founded in 2009 by Tim Hollerbach, AIA, NCARB, whose residential design background dates to 1998. The Arnold-based practice specializes in custom homes, additions, and renovations across South St. Louis County and Jefferson County, including rural and acreage properties, and it has won Best of Houzz nine times.
Tim Hollerbach Designs is a small architecture-only practice, so construction is bid and contracted separately, and cost visibility during the build depends on the builder the client selects. The firm's award record is concentrated in platform recognition rather than juried design awards.
Location: Arnold, MO
Founded: 2009
Avg. Review Score: 4.9/5
Price Range: $$$
Services: Custom home design, additions, renovations, historic renovations, light commercial design
| Summary of Online Reviews |
|---|
| Clients consistently praise Tim Hollerbach Designs for "taking our vision and ideas" and turning them into a home design that fits the way they live. |
9. Curtiss W. Byrne Architect, for West County residential design
Curtiss W. Byrne Architect is a Chesterfield-based residential practice led by Curtiss W. Byrne, AIA, specializing in custom homes, additions, and remodels throughout West St. Louis County. The firm is known for close collaboration from initial concept through final design, and it holds one of the larger review footprints among small Missouri architecture practices, averaging 4.9 across more than 50 client reviews.
Curtiss W. Byrne Architect is a design-only practice, so clients contract construction separately and rely on their builder for cost reporting. The firm's founding date and award history are not publicly documented, which makes its track record harder to benchmark than firms with verified recognition.
Location: Chesterfield, MO
Founded: Not publicly disclosed
Avg. Review Score: 4.9/5
Price Range: $$$
Services: Custom home design, additions, remodels, kitchens and baths, construction documents and renderings
| Summary of Online Reviews |
|---|
| Clients frequently highlight Curtiss W. Byrne Architect for a collaborative process that reflects each family's vision and lifestyle in the final design. |
10. Peckham Architecture, for sustainable mid-Missouri design
Peckham Architecture is a Columbia-based practice led by Nick Peckham, who has practiced sustainable architecture since 1973 and studied under Buckminster Fuller. The firm focuses on deep green design, historic preservation, and residential and commercial projects across mid-Missouri, and Peckham designed the first house in Missouri pursuing Passive House certification, a net-zero home also targeting LEED Platinum. COMO Magazine readers named the firm one of Columbia's top architects in 2016.
Peckham Architecture is a small design-only practice, so construction is contracted separately with local builders, and its current firm dates to 2011 even though its principal's career is much longer. Its portfolio centers on energy performance and historic work in central Missouri rather than lake or steep-slope homes, and it has too few reviews on independent platforms to benchmark client satisfaction.
Location: Columbia, MO
Founded: 2011 (principal practicing since 1973)
Avg. Review Score: Too few public reviews to average
Price Range: $$$
Services: Sustainable and Passive House design, residential architecture, historic preservation, renovations, commercial architecture
| Summary of Online Reviews |
|---|
| Clients consistently praise Peckham Architecture for energy-efficient homes that cut utility costs without sacrificing comfort or character. |
The Best Architects in Missouri by Specialty
The Best Architects in Missouri for Lake and Second Homes
TXR Architects + Constructors
Dake Wells Architecture
FORNEY + architecture
Hufft
Tim Hollerbach Designs
The Best Architects in Missouri for Design Through Construction
TXR Architects + Constructors
el dorado
Hufft
Srote & Co Architects
Mitchell Wall Architecture & Design
The Best Architects in Missouri for Luxury Custom Home Design
TXR Architects + Constructors
Srote & Co Architects
Mitchell Wall Architecture & Design
FORNEY + architecture
Hufft
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