Mission

BWArchitects (BWA) is an architecture, design & fabrication studio led by Founding Partner Basil Walter and Managing Partner Brenda Bello.  Headquartered in New York City, with satellites in Los Angeles and London, the firm’s multi disciplinary team designs and executes environments and experiences across the globe. 

The studio began its work in the late 1980’s in New York, restoring highly detailed interiors at the historic Dakota Apartments on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, and the study and appreciation of history and craftsmanship continues to inform the work of the practice today.

Since those early days, BWArchitects has been involved in a wide variety of project types, from residential and commercial architecture and interiors to hospitality and large scale special events. The studio maintains an active workshop for prototyping, model making and fabrication of key design elements for many of the projects it undertakes. 

Team

Basil Walter, AIA & Brenda Bello, AIA

For over 30 years Basil Walter, BWA founding partner, has been an innovative force and influential voice in the cultural conversation around architecture and design; historic preservation and leading-edge contemporary work. Graduating from the Rhode Island School of Design, Walter started his career as a painter before establishing his architecture studio in 1984, restoring an apartment in the historic Dakota Apartments.

Basil Walter, AIA USABrasil

Founding Partner

USABrasil

Brenda Bello is the managing partner at BWA and holds a BArch degree from the City College of New York.

Brenda brings over 20 years of professional experience of architectural practice in the US, Asia, South America and Europe with extensive knowledge of design and construction practices. As a highly skilled and experienced architect, the focus of her work is in the conception and implementation of design ideas from practical and environmental perspectives.

Brenda Bello, AIA USADominican Republic

Partner

USADominican Republic

Justin Weiner USA

Senior Associate,
Director of Operations

USA

Ayvind Karlsen, AIA, LEED AP USA

Senior Associate, Design Director

USA

Joel Medina USADominican Republic

Senior Project Designer

USADominican Republic

Ashley Verbanic, AIA USA

Project Manager

USA

Meredith Simpson, RA USA

Project Architect

USA

Mana Prokop, AIA, LEED GA USAAustria

Project Architect

USAAustria

Jose Abreu USADominican Republic

Project Designer

USADominican Republic

Lauren Andrus USA

Project Designer

USA

Shawn Hott, AIA USA

Project Architect

USA

Diana Seclen Peru

Project Coordinator

Peru

Kasia Mokrzycka USAPoland

Office Manager

USAPoland

Abigail Arbel USAIsrael

Special Projects Coordinator

USAIsrael

Cocobear USABelgium

Top Dog

USABelgium

Selected Clients

  • Apple
  • At Land
  • BMW
  • Breakthrough Initiatives
  • Comcast NBCUniversal
  • Cora Pearl
  • Hilton Grand Vacations
  • One Sutton Place South
  • PayPal
  • Silkstone Hospitality
  • Skanska
  • The Aspen Institute
  • The Beatrice Inn
  • The Flea Theater
  • The Monkey Bar
  • The Royce
  • The Union League Club
  • The Waverly Inn
  • Tribeca Film Festival
  • Vanity Fair

Affiliations