Stewardship, Inc. is an Austin, Texas, full service architectural firm offering commercial and residential planning, design and consultation services based on sustainable principles. Sustainable design is all about better buildings — better for those who own and occupy the building and better for the environment and future generations. We feel that sustainable design is the only responsible way to design and must be an intrinsic part of each of our projects.

As the first architectural firm in Austin devoted exclusively to sustainable design, we have a history of affiliations with both local and national sustainable design and building organizations. Our president was a charter member of the City of Austin's international award winning Green Building Program, our Vice President was manager of the City's Commercial Green Building Program, and both were founding members and coordinators of the Sustainable Building Coalition. Stewardship, Inc. is a member of the United States Green Building Council (USGBC), our staff is 100% LEED®-Accredited Professionals, and our VP was a founding member and current faculty member of the USGBC.

One of the more unique qualities of Stewardship is our experience with natural materials and "alternative" systems. We have designed structures with walls of straw bales, cob (clay, straw, sand), rammed earth, compressed soil blocks, light clay, autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC), Faswall and stone. Several of our projects have included durable earthen floors and beautiful earth plasters. We have found that designing with natural materials and daylight is sustainable in the greater sense and for the human soul.

Stewardship utilizes concepts, materials and methods that conserve resources, reduce building operation and maintenance costs, and protect human and environmental health. We formulate solutions that address human requirements and environmental impacts as well as the full spectrum of conventional building-related issues. Among the aspects we examine and incorporate are:

• Climate responsive design; energy efficiency
• Indoor air quality
• Rainwater harvesting and water conservation
• Alternative sewage treatment and stormwater management strategies
• Passive solar heating and cooling; Natural ventilation
• Construction and demolition waste management
• Daylighting
• Indoor-outdoor relationships
• Local and on-site materials; material resource efficiency
• Nontoxic / least toxic materials and systems
• Integrated, multi-purpose systems
• Community-enhancing design
• Spatial efficiency, multi-function spaces and future expansion planning
• Use of local and regional artisans and craftsmen

We use a team approach to design that engages Owners, Engineers, Landscapers, Builders and other necessary design professionals early and throughout the design process. The Owner, of course, is the pivotal member of the team, and Stewardship has had the good fortune of consistently attracting some of the brightest, most interesting, energetic and thoughtful clients possible.

"The rule of no realm is mine, but all worthy things that are in peril as the world now stands, those are my care. And for my part, I shall not wholly fail in my task if anything passes through this night that can still grow fair or bear fruit and flower again in days to come. For I too am a steward. Did you not know?"
                — J.R.R. Tolkien

As the oldest architectural firm in Austin devoted exclusively to sustainable design, we have a history of affiliations with both local and national sustainable design and building organizations. Our president was a charter member of the City of Austin's international award winning Green Building Program, our Vice President was manager of the City's Commercial Green Building Program, and both were founding members and coordinators of the Sustainable Building Coalition. Stewardship, Inc. is a member of the United States Green Building Council (USGBC), our staff is 100% LEED®-Accredited Professionals, and our VP was a founding member and current faculty member of the USGBC.