Chris Krager, Krager & Associates Design/Build (KRDB)

This Austin, Texas–based studio built its profile by designing and building some notable houses on spec. Chris Krager cofounded KRDB in 2001 with the goal of creating extraordinary buildings that are financially accessible. Their first project, the Cedar Avenue houses (see “Texas Two-Step,” March/April 2003), designed and built under Austin’s SMART Housing program, set the tone for the practice. The full-time staff of six includes a construction superintendent, but KRDB works assiduously to cultivate a constellation of tradespeople, real estate agents, and finance specialists.