Bell-Butler Design and Architecture
Megan Bell and Lindsay Butler credit many factors for their success, but “resourcefulness” and love for telling a “cohesive design story” rank high on the list. These shared traits have helped make Bell Butler the ‘go-to’ for a growing number of clients in New Orleans and beyond.
Resourcefulness might mean creative problem solving with the City’s Historic District Landmarks Commission (HDLC) or envisioning DIY art installations to add budget-friendly interest to bare walls. As Bell said, “It’s being able to do good work on a budget, not just defaulting to the most expensive, pretty materials that everyone’s going to like.”
That said, their work is plenty pretty. Highlights include Spyre, the health and wellness center that Bell Butler helped bring to life in the former Scandinavian Jazz Church and Cultural Center, and Framework, the Lower Garden District commercial space that has earned design accolades (and imitators) with its sleek silhouettes and masterful use of outdoor space. A transitional home they created Uptown earned an AIA Design Award in 2022. And their imprint can be seen in range of stunning food hall projects, including the former Auction House Market in New Orleans and the Politan Row spaces in Atlanta and other cities.
The pair’s joint journey began serendipitously. Bell’s professional experiences included working at studioWTA before leaving to start her own venture (and a family). Work was coming to Bell at a steady clip when a friend introduced her to Butler, an Alabama native and experienced architect who relocated to New Orleans from Athens, Georgia, planning to work for a large architectural firm. The two hit it off and began collaborating on various projects — which continued to grow in scope. After about a year and a half, they decided to formalize the arrangement.
Bell Butler has grown to a staff of six (including the two principals) and settled into an office they recently purchased and renovated in the Bywater. “Chewbacchus parties will be the regular, as long as they keep their parade route,” promised Butler.
Their latest opportunity is a new dining hall building on the campus of Southern University at New Orleans. Bell and Butler are excited not only to be working in the education space but to design according to the state’s recently adopted energy code, one of the nation’s greenest. “We’re going to be meeting a tighter standard than most of California,” noted Butler. “That project in particular is our first opportunity to really dive into it.”
As for the cohesive design storytelling? It underpins every project, and both Bell and Butler pride themselves on sticking to a story, even in the face of challenges. As Butler explained, “What we do is try to really stay true to that design story and see it through until the end. Because you can generate it, but there’s always things coming at you trying to derail you between schedules, budget… the fire marshal! But to make sure that vision succeeds in the end. And so far, I think we’ve been pretty successful at it.”
