Business Details
Award-Winning Architectural Design in Lafayette, LA
Emery McClure Architecture is a design research practice committed to leveraging architecture as a service to clients, communities, and the global ecosystem. Our philosophy centers on resolving opposing forces through inclusive design, creating solutions that balance uniqueness with accessibility, practicality with poetic expression, and innovation with cultural preservation. With decades of combined experience, our team of licensed architects and educators approaches each project as an opportunity to integrate proven methodologies with groundbreaking research, addressing contemporary challenges like climate resiliency and adaptive preservation.Our expertise spans full-scale material installations, commissioned buildings, and speculative design visions, informed by rigorous academic scholarship and hands-on construction knowledge. As recognized leaders in sustainable urbanism and coastal architecture, we demonstrate authoritativeness through peer-reviewed awards, international exhibitions, and publications in leading architectural journals. Our trustworthiness is evidenced by transparent collaboration with clients, adherence to LEED and professional standards, and a track record of transforming complex environmental and cultural contexts into functional, meaningful spaces.
Services
Residential Architecture
Civic Buildings
Commercial Design
Sustainable Urbanism
Historic Preservation
Climate Resilient Design
Speculative Installations
Material Research
Coastal Architecture
Design Education
Highlights and features
- We hold the prestigious Gorham P. Stevens Rome Prize in Architecture
- Our team includes AIA Fellows and award-winning educators
- We pioneered conditional preservation methodologies for climate-vulnerable sites
- We integrate academic research with practical construction expertise
- Our designs have been exhibited at the Venice Biennale and National Building Museum
Associations and certifications
- American Institute of Architects (AIA)
- LEED AP BD+C
What people say
Award-worthy attention to detail
Creative modern design
Highly recommended
Perfect forever home
Successful historic integration
Services
Residential Architecture
We create custom residential spaces that balance modern aesthetics with environmental context. Our homes incorporate climate-resilient materials and passive design strategies while maintaining strong connections to regional cultural landscapes. Each project undergoes rigorous material analysis and spatial optimization to ensure longevity and adaptability in changing environmental conditions.
Civic Buildings
Our civic projects merge community needs with innovative design solutions. We specialize in creating public spaces that serve as both functional infrastructure and cultural landmarks, with particular expertise in preserving historical significance within modern urban contexts through advanced digital documentation techniques.
Climate Resilient Design
We develop adaptive strategies for environmentally vulnerable sites using time-based analysis of ecological changes. Our methodology combines GIS mapping, material degradation studies, and predictive modeling to create buildings that evolve with their surroundings while maintaining structural integrity over multiple time scales.
Historic Preservation
Our preservation approach extends beyond physical structures to include cultural and environmental contexts. We employ digital documentation, photogrammetry, and temporal visualization techniques to create comprehensive preservation records that maintain cultural relevance even when physical sites face environmental threats.
Design Research
We conduct cutting-edge research that bridges academic inquiry and practical application. Our investigations into material culture, coastal ecologies, and spatial dynamics inform both our built projects and theoretical speculations, resulting in solutions that address both immediate needs and long-term global challenges through peer-reviewed methodologies.
People
Michael A. McClure
Dean and Founding Partner
A licensed architect and educator with over 20 years of academic leadership, Michael directs design research focused on coastal resilience. He holds a Master of Architecture from Columbia University and has taught at Tulane, LSU, and Kansas State University where he serves as Dean of Architecture.
Ursula Emery McClure
Founding Partner
LEED-certified architect specializing in climate-resilient design, Ursula combines practice with academic leadership as former Ralph Hawkins Visiting Professor at UT-Arlington. She received her Master of Architecture from Columbia University and was elevated to AIA Fellow for contributions to adaptive preservation research.
Sarah Young
Partner
Licensed architect and educator specializing in design pedagogy, Sarah coordinates interdisciplinary design studios at University of Louisiana at Lafayette. She received her M.Arch from UL Lafayette and was named Partner in recognition of her contributions to residential and educational architecture projects.
Questions
What architectural styles does emerymcclure specialize in?
We specialize in modern, climate-resilient designs that respect historical contexts, blending contemporary aesthetics with regional cultural heritage in residential, civic, and speculative projects.
How does the firm approach sustainable design?
Our sustainable approach integrates LEED principles, material stewardship, and adaptive preservation strategies, focusing on long-term ecological resilience for coastal and environmentally vulnerable sites.
Can they handle historic home renovations?
Yes, we excel at modernizing historic homes while preserving architectural integrity, as demonstrated by our award-winning transformations of 19th-century and mid-century modern residences.
Do they offer international design services?
Yes, our research-based practice addresses global environmental challenges through projects spanning coastal Louisiana to international speculative installations exhibited at the Venice Biennale.
What construction management services are provided?
We offer comprehensive construction administration, including design review board navigation, material sourcing guidance, and on-site problem-solving to ensure design intent realization.
