Byron J. Mouton, AIA, was an established architect, educator, New Orleans native, and alumnus of Tulane University. He traveled a path from New Orleans through Harvard’s Graduate School of Design to professional practice in Central Europe, and eventually returned home. He committed himself to building his locally based practice, BILD Design, in conjunction with his academic role as Professor of Practice at Tulane’s School of Architecture and Director of the school’s design/build program, URBANbuild. From 2011 to 2014, he served as one of the founding endowed Social Entrepreneurship Professors in the university-wide program in Social Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship (SISE).
With more than 20 years of experience in the fields of architecture and construction, several award-winning projects, and exposure in national and international publications, Byron remained committed to critical assignments that exemplified a collaborative planning approach and a dedication to the regional remediation of New Orleans. As a local, he understood the impact of pre-Katrina problems on a post-Katrina world and the challenges that followed. The comprehensive nature of such tasks fueled his investigations in pursuit of progressive contextual infill possibilities that encouraged and advanced the revitalization of New Orleans’ urban fabric. Over 14 years as Principal of BILD, Byron explored alternative models for affordable housing within the context of the city’s sometimes peculiar setting and continued to offer the city progressive options for domestic growth in the face of ongoing challenges.
Through his involvement in directing design studios, study abroad programs, and the URBANbuild program, Byron promoted an interdisciplinary dialogue between practice, teaching, and research. By capitalizing on the symbiotic relationship between his practice and his teaching, he brought together clients, students, community organizations, visiting academic groups, industry leaders, non-profit organizations, and governing agencies—educating a wider audience on the issues of quality design and construction while also improving and enhancing the aesthetic, economic, and ecological environment of projects and developmental opportunities.
Byron was an invited studio critic and speaker at numerous universities, both nationally and internationally. He often volunteered his time to participate on local panels related to New Orleans’ built environment and was actively involved in the 2011 National American Institute of Architects Convention hosted in New Orleans.
Byron J. Mouton held a Social Entrepreneurship Professorship from 2011 to 2014.