FIRM HISTORY
NEGRETE & KOLAR: FIRM HISTORY
Negrete & Kolar Architects, LLP is a locally-owned and operated Professional Architectural Services Design Firm with two design studios—a fully-staffed Design Studio in Edinburg, TX in the Rio Grande Valley and another in North Central Austin. The firm’s key principal, Licensed Architect and Licensed Interior Designer David Negrete, AIA, has practiced in south and central Texas for more
than 40 years. Within that experience, Negrete has consistently been in the forefront of client/user responsive design that carefully accommodates climate, solar orientation and the surrounding environment.
The firm was established to pursue and be engaged in the design of public projects that serve societal needs and uses. The focus on that segment of architecture represents the interests and values of the firm and its lengthy history of practitioners associated with the firm. Thus, the majority of the firm’s clientele have always consisted and remain predominantly Municipalities, Counties,
Economic Development Councils, Colleges & Universities, School Districts, State and Federal Agencies and social service organizations.
The Negrete & Kolar team brings broad experience to every project, including a range of technical production skills, and maintains a friendly, professional atmosphere.
In Memoriam: Founding Partner Roger Kolar
Roger Kolar, 79, passed away on May 21, 2023 from cancer. It was in his first grade classroom where he met Patricia (Patty) Kolar, his wife of nearly 56 years. Roger loved and cared for Patty throughout her long battle with Parkinson’s disease. Tragically, and romantically, their diseases progressed side by side in the last year and Patty passed away 3 days prior to Roger’s death.
Roger attended SMU earning a degree in Interior Design. Upon graduation, Roger joined the Air Force as an Officer through ROTC. He served in Rapid City, South Dakota, Alexandria, Louisiana, and in Vietnam at the Tan Son Nhut Air Base in Saigon. While in Saigon, Roger was wounded and earned a Purple Heart. He also received a Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service while in Vietnam.
After leaving the Air Force in 1970, Roger and Patty moved to Austin, where Roger earned a Bachelor of Architecture then a Master of Architecture from the University of Texas. Roger was managing partner at several architecture partnerships until his retirement in 2013 from Negrete and Kolar Architects. As a proud Czech, a highlight of his career was designing the Main Center building for the Texas Czech Heritage and Cultural Center in La Grange, Texas.
Roger and Patty were both passionate about supporting organizations devoted to bettering the world and caring for those in need. Roger loved to cook and enjoyed hosting annual Christmas feasts for family and friends. He was a talented artist; his artwork now fills his children’s homes. He loved a good puzzle, keeping up the yard, attending classical musical performances, and maintaining the family home. Roger could build and fix anything and had an undeniable style and good humor that made for a warm and welcoming home for any that visited. He was a constant source of knowledge and support to his children and grandchildren.
In addition to his children and grandchildren, Roger is survived by his siblings Geraldine (Ervin) Laubert, and David (Rebecca) Kolar and their families.
