Kirksey-designed Credit Human space was recognized for its innovative and sustainable corporate office in San Antonio
Kirksey Architecture is excited to share that the American Institute of Architects (AIA) has recognized the Credit Human Headquarters as a 2025 COTE® Top Ten Award winner.
This prestigious award celebrates projects that exemplify sustainable design excellence and outstanding performance. Credit Human’s headquarters stands as a model for these tenants through restorative, forward-thinking architecture, redefining the conventional corporate office while deeply reflecting and reinforcing the organization’s culture and values.
Credit Human is a San Antonio-based credit union with a Texas history that spans decades. The company values people above all else and strives to prioritize the interests of its members while maintaining a culture of respect across the board. When they called on Kirksey to complete the design of their new workspace in the Broadway Office Development in San Antonio, the team started with those same values.
“Credit Human’s vision for their headquarters was rooted in a deep commitment to their employees, community, and environment," said Kate Dalton, Senior Associate at Kirksey Architecture. “Rather than relying on us to design to set standards, Kirksey was challenged to propose what was theoretically possible. It unleashed a creative passion in our team to design with a new and deeper purpose. We are incredibly proud of the result and hope Credit Human stands as a beacon for our industry, inspiring others to build and design with a renewed sense of curiosity and responsibility.”
The 12-story, 200,000-square-foot building was designed to meet stringent sustainability standards. The headquarters leverages biophilic principles, elevated indoor air quality, and material transparency to create an environment that radiates wellness and puts its people first. Similarly, it features multiple energy demand and supply-side solutions that make the headquarters 96 percent more efficient than buildings of similar size.
“We’re incredibly proud of the final result and the meaningful relationships we’ve built throughout the process. As architects, we serve as stewards of the environment, responsible for considering the performance and impact of the buildings we design,” said David Dalton, Partner and Managing Director of Kirksey’s Central Texas practice. Collaborating with a forward-thinking client like Credit Human, whose mission deeply considers environmental and social impacts, allowed this project to become a powerful expression of their values through architecture. We hope it continues to inspire and educate others on how high-performing office buildings can shape the office of the future.”
The open office environment aims for the highest standards of mitigating waste streams, complete plug load control of all workstations, daylight harvesting, 100,000+ gallons of reclaimed water, reducing potable water usage by 97 percent, and a solar field that covers the roof of their building.
“The Credit Human Headquarters exemplifies how a collaborative, creative, committed team achieves great things through a radical, shared purpose. Credit Human’s vision empowered our design expertise to thrive, delivering innovative, beautiful, commonsense solutions in a building that will be celebrated well into the next century,” said Catherine Callaway, Director of Sustainability and Building Performance at Kirksey. “This award honors the expertise Kirksey has developed over 50+ years and our continued dedication to environmental stewardship and rooting projects in their communities. It’s a reminder of what we are capable of and it motivates our teams to keep pushing boundaries and creating lasting, positive change.”
The COTE Top Ten were announced on June 5th at an awards gala during the national AIA Conference on Architecture & Design in Boston, Massachusetts.
“This win is a huge milestone for Kirksey, punctuating a two-decade push for better buildings,” said Brian Malarkey, Partner and Managing Director of Interior Architecture at Kirksey. “Never have I worked with a client that was more focused on people and performance than Credit Human. Literally every decision led back to the wellbeing of their team members and community, and the elegant efficiency of their building.”
Credit Human photography by Dror Baldinger FAIA.