BELLWETHER TECHNOLOGY

LOCATION: Freret Neighborhood, New Orleans, Louisiana

PROGRAM: Corporate Headquarters

BUDGET: Confidential

STATUS: Complete

PROJECT TEAM: GOAT (Architecture and Interiors); Landis Construction (General Contractor); Electrical Design Solutions (Electrical Engineering); Henry Consulting Engineers (Mechanical Engineering); Procella (Landscape Architecture and Civil Engineering)

The rectory attached to the historic Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Uptown New Orleans has stood vacant since Hurricane Katrina in 2005. In 2021, GOAT teamed with Bellwether Technology, the largest IT company in New Orleans, to restore the structure and reimagine its interior as Bellwether’s corporate headquarters. The Spanish Colonial Revival church and rectory date back to 1925 and was restored in time to celebrate 100 years as a primary fixture of the Freret neighborhood.

The new offices provide a combination of flexible, contemporary, collaborative coworking style spaces and private offices. GOAT deployed a light touch throughout much of the historic building, allowing its character to shine through. Most of the creative reinvention was reserved for the common areas.

GOAT team: Paula Bechara, Peter Spera III, Colin VanWingen

Bellwether has built an impressive corporate culture over the years and put particular emphasis on investing heavily in the building’s shared spaces during the design process. A large ground floor Break Room with an outdoor dining area, a fitness center, and conference spaces on each floor provide the Bellwether team with ample space for collaboration, socializing, and relaxation.

The finishes and fixtures selected for these spaces provide a contemporary contrast to the building’s carefully restored, reserved exterior. Enthusiastic use of color and texture also differentiate the common and collaborative areas from the more neutral offices and circulation spaces. The palette pulls inspiration from the Bellwether brand, which was reimagined concurrently with the development of the interior design for their corporate headquarters.

Founded in 1980, Bellwether has evolved continuously over its first 40 years and has grown into a regional leader in IT services. With the help of the GOAT design team, Bellwether’s next 40 years in its new home will undoubtedly see further evolution and continued excellence serving the New Orleans business community.